PLANET WEEKLY 542. CHECK OUT THE INTERVIEW WITH LYDIA LOVELESS.

// IN THIS ISSUE >> UP-TO-DATE RESTAURANT LISTINGS ›› LYDIA LOVELESS ›› NAMM BEST IN SHOW 2017 ›› THE HEALTHY FAT ›› DUNKIRK ›› THINGS TO DO AT BAMA ›› ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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>>> planetweeklyissue542

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ENTERTAINMENT 5 CHAMBER NEWS 6 BOOK REVIEW

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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 4 LYDIA LOVELESS // ALLEN SCULLEY

9 BEER/WINE REVIEWS 10 IN THE KITCHEN

RESTAURANT GUIDE

14 PET PLANET

“Offstage, I’m really kind of shy,” she said. “I’m a really private person I would say.

Music, it gIves me a chance to get stuff out there. People expect me to be the same way. No. That’s why I made a record.”

15 MOVIE REVIEWS

6 HEALTHY FATS // DR. RACHEL STEINER

16 EVENTS

“In other parts of the world, fat has always been welcome at the dinner table and its no coincidence that they are not struggling like the United States with an obesity and health crisis. It is time we realize the truth, not all fats are created equal and our body needs fat to survive and function at an optimal level.”

7 SUMMER NAMM 2017 // MUSIC NEWS

“Best In Show, the popular NAMM University breakfast panel discussion, named 18 new products and four companies that exemplify excellence at Summer NAMM.”

22 ENTERTAINMENT // REGGIE ALLEN

“Despite attending the Capstone for two years, I can honestly say that I attended maybe a handful of Football games and that was only because someone gave me free tickets. Unlike many of my former classmates, sports never interested me.

Instead, I put my energy into finding other sources of entertainment around campus.”

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 L A N S C U L L E Y

Photo Courtesy of David T. Kindler/Some Girls Style

LYDIA LOVELESS // "REAL"

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fter a year on the road in support of her 2016 breakthrough album “Real,” Lydia Loveless had to take stock of her life outside the tour bubble of the van, venues, shows and motels.

“As a musician, you’re touring all the time and not always paying attention to what’s going on with you,” she said. “Then you get into the real world and it hits you. I think that’s what happened to me. I had so much time off this year, I went into a huge depression.”

It took a few months for Loveless to come out of the depression that was caused, in part, by a divorce. In that time, she made some changes in her lifestyle, the biggest of which was moving.

“I’m about to be a farm girl again,” said Loveless, who grew up on an Indiana farm. “In August, I’m moving to a little homestead in North Carolina.

I'm like ‘oh my God, do I have the constitution for this?’”

While she gets ready for life in country, Loveless has started writing songs again -- something she couldn’t do when she was depressed.

and Britney Spears pop to her Richard Hell-meets-Hank Williams country-punk mix?

“Who knows?” she said. “It’s more about what kind of mood you’re in when you get into the studio. I know one thing, I’m trying to get out of the old, white man, Americana scene.

I probably just alienated 800 people. But I’ve got to shake things up.

“When that finally lifted, I've been able to write,” she said.

“It’s hard to be creative, at least for me, when you’re depressed.

It’s not what people think. They think the songs come out of the depression. They don’t...I’m definitely writing more now.

Pretty much everything can go wrong and if I’m creative, I'm okay. I’ve got like three new ones that are kind of typically schizophrenic.”

“I'd always rather be seen for what I am, for what the songs are rather than how country is something,” she said. “How many country points do I get?

I don't care. It's a really rough scene to be in, especially as a lady.”

So are those songs going to be like those on “Real,” an album on which she added Replacements rock ‘n’ roll

But Loveless said she’d never intended to get pigeonholed into a genre, even one as amorphous as Americana, and never wanted to keep her music

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“Real” started that Americana rejection, and drew a younger audience, and far more women, to her shows.

the same from year to year or album to album.

“All the artists I admire are chameleons,” Loveless said.

“That’s why we've all been so sad about Prince and (David) Bowie. They changed and explored and took chances. For me it was (never) “Indestructible Machine” was good, let’s make “Indestructible Machine 2.”

“Indestructible Machine” from 2011 was Loveless’s first album on Bloodshot Records. But she started making music years before that. Growing up on an Ohio farm in a musical family, Loveless began playing piano at 8, became the bassist in her sister’s band at 13, started writing songs and singing at 15.

She began writing songs for “The Only Man,” her 2010 independently released album, when she was 17. That led her to reflect on the perils of being a direct, brutally honest songwriter at a very young age.

said. “When you have the concrete proof of what you were going through at 17, it’s like ‘Really, did that have to be preserved?’”

That said, Loveless has no regrets about what’s she said in song, be it brash or vulgar. She has points to make and a very direct way of making them.

“I think the thing I despise most about society is the amount of lying that goes on,” she said. “I can come across as the harsh, judgemental jerk. But I have to be brutal.”

That said, don’t expect Loveless to bring that raw brashness to everyday conversation, be it after a show or in an interview.

“Offstage, I’m really kind of shy,” she said. “I’m a really private person I would say. Music, it gIves me a chance to get stuff out there. People expect me to be the same way. No. That’s why I made a record.”

“Every day I do that,” Loveless

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NEWS GREENVILLE 2017: CHAMBER TAKES 70+ ON INAUGURAL BENCHMARKING TRIP

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ore than 70 Chamber members and community leaders traveled to Greenville, South Carolina, July 23-25, for the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama's inaugural benchmarking trip.

Chosen for how Greenville has embraced smart growth, downtown redevelopment and a knowledge based, entrepreneurial economy, participants heard from individuals directly responsible for Greenville's transformation, and were inspired to apply those successes in West Alabama.

"I think it was a great trip and I really enjoyed visiting Greenville," says Bruce Higginbotham, Northport City Engineer and Interim City Administrator. "It was very informative and we learned a lot from them. I was especially interested in hearing how they transformed themselves through the years. This was not an overnight process, but they committed themselves to it and they have created an incredible living environment for their citizens.

In a lot of ways, Northport is in a similar position. The City has tremendous assets and is a growing community. We can improve our community by highlighting these assets and moving forward in a planned, proactive way."

Speakers for the benchmarking trip included public officials, elected representatives and entrepreneurs from the area, all who discussed the transformative atmosphere in the community. Greenville's once-dormant city center has now become a national model for downtown redevelopment.

The group began the agenda with a presentation from Hank Hyatt, Vice President, Economic Competitiveness, Greenville Chamber of Commerce, who highlighted the difference in Greenville before and after the transformation. "You must make yourself open to new people and new ideas," Hyatt told the crowd.

The group also visited NEXT Innovation Center to learn about the area's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem, which has allowed Greenville to retain young talent. Speakers included John Moore, President and CEO of NEXT and Harold Hughes, Founder and CEO of BandwagonFanClub, Inc. "Until the city began to provide opportunities, Greenville's greatest export was talented young people," said Bill West, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of Ellipsis Technologies, Inc. During a visit to City Hall, the group met with Greenville city officials Matt Efird, Budget Administrator; Kevin Howard, Economic Development Analyst and Ginny Stroud, Community Development Administrator.

Howard spoke on the importance of creating a sense of place. "You must capitalize on your assets and the uniqueness of your community," he said. "Use public investement to leverage economic development. Focus on centrally located investments and use them as catalysts.

Be willing to take risks. Focus on quality, not quantity."

Following a luncheon with Mayor Knox White, during which he talked about some of the challenges faced by the city, the group headed to Clemson ONE for a presentation on higher education and talent retention.

and action items.

2017 Greenville Inaugural Benchmarking Trip Attendees: Amy Ahmed, The Arts & Humanities Council of Tuscaloosa County, Inc.; Dr. Stuart Bell, The University of Alabama; Ben Bickerstaff, The University of Alabama - Office of Technology Transfer; Dan Blakley, Regions Bank; Jo Bonner, The University of Alabama System; Bobby Bragg, JamisonMoneyFarmer PC; Audrey Buck, City of Tuscaloosa Office of Urban Development; Paul Connolly, TCC Acquisition Partners, LLC; Steven Deal, Pritchett-Moore, Inc.; Steve Diorio, WVUA 23; Amy Echols, Kentuck Art Center; Claude Edwards, Bryant Bank; Mike Ellis, Ellis Architects; Erica Grant, Tuscaloosa City Board of Education; Vikki Grodner, The Drish House / Grodner Group - Events at Drish; Chris Gunter, Buffalo Rock Company/Pepsi-Cola; Crockett Hailey, Dority & Manning, P.A. (Greenville, SC); Jim Harrison, III, Harrison Galleries, LLC; Bruce Higginbotham, City of Northport; Joe Hocutt, Southland Benefit Solutions, LLC; Cal Holt, Knight Sign Industries, Inc. / Southern Ale House, LLC; Justin Holt, Southern Ale House, LLC; Dr. Leroy Hurt, The University of Alabama - College of Continuing Studies; Bobby Ingram, JamisonMoneyFarmer PC; Molly Ingram, DCH Health System; Katy Beth Jackson, City of Tuscaloosa - Office of Urban Development; Carl Jamison, JamisonMoneyFarmer PC; Andy Jocham, Tuscaloosa County Industrial Development Authority; Donny Jones, Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama; Dr. Chuck Karr, The University of Alabama - College of Engineering; Patrick Kennedy, Sealy Realty; Drew Kyle, Kyle Office Solutions; Dara Longgrear, Tuscaloosa County Industrial Development Authority; Bill Lunsford, Bill Lunsford Construction, Inc.; Mayor Walt Maddox, City of Tuscaloosa; Blake Madison, Rosen Harwood, P.A.; John Malone, iHeart Media Tuscaloosa; Amy Materson, Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama; Scott McClanahan, The WHMZ Group at Morgan Stanley; Dean McClure, TTL, Inc.; Jill McDonald, Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama; Kim McMurray, Ward Scott Architecture; Gary Minor, Tuscaloosa County Park and Recreation Authority; Brendan Moore, City of Tuscaloosa - Office of Urban Development; Wilson Moore, Pritchett-Moore, Inc.; Ruth O'Connor, The Arts & Humanities Council of Tuscaloosa County, Inc.; Jim Page, Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama; Dr. Kay Palan, The University of Alabama Culverhouse College of Commerce; David Pass, Miers Pass Philanthropy; Rodney Pelt, Mind Changers, Inc.; Dr. Carl Pinkert, The University of Alabama; Jordan Plaster, Plaster, Scarvey and Associates of Ameriprise; Jabaree Prewitt, WVUA 23; Ron Price, Bill Lunsford Construction, Inc.; Steven Rumsey, Rumsey Properties; Clay Ryan, The University of Alabama System; Ted Sexton, Circinus, LLC; Cooper Shattuck, Cooper Shattuck, LLC; Max Snyder, City of Northport; Al Spencer, Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama; Don Staley, Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports; Scott Stephens, City of Northport; Sontonia Stephens, Community Service Programs of West Alabama; Rob Steward, Alabama Power Company; Mark Sullivan, The Bank of Tuscaloosa; Dr. Rick Swatloski, The University of Alabama - Office of Technology Transfer; Tina Turley, Theatre Tuscaloosa; R.B. Walker, The University of Alabama; Phillip Weaver, Weaver Rentals, LLC; Dr. Theresa Welbourne, The University of Alabama - Culverhouse College of Commerce; Bryan Winter, Winter McFarland, LLC; Sandra Wolfe, The Arts & Humanities Council of Tuscaloosa County, Inc.; Bill Wright, Royal Fine Cleaners.

Presenting Sponsor for the 2017 Benchmarking Trip: The University of Alabama Gold Sponsors: Bryant Bank Miers Pass Philanthropy TTL, inc.

Winter McFarland Attorneys & Counselors at Law Silver Sponsor: TekLinks Bronze Sponsors: Ameriprise Financial: Plaster, Scarvey and Associates D.T. & Freight Co., Inc. Southland Benefit Solutions

In the afternoon, attendees divided into breakout groups during which Mark Farris, President and CEO of the Greenville Area Development Corporation; John Lummus, President and CEO of Upstate Alliance and Mike Panasko, Business Development Manager for the City of Greenville led one group through promoting regional cooperation in economic development.

A second group met with Alan Ethridge, the Executive Director of the Greenville Metropolitan Arts Council and Lesley Craddock, Marketing and Media Director of the Greenville Tourism Commission to discuss how the city promotes the arts, culture and tourism.

The third breakout group tackled workforce development with Jay Blankenship, Regional Workforce Advisor for the South Carolina Department of Commerce; Dean Jones, Workforce Development Administrator, SC Works Greenville; and Nika White, Senior Advisor for Diversity and Inclusion for the Greenville Chamber of Commerce.

After some free time in the afternoon to explore downtown Greenville, the participants met for dinner. Following a welcome by Dr. Stuart Bell on behalf of the University of Alabama, the event's presenting sponsor, the group heard from Carlos Phillips, President and CEO of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, and Bo Aughtry, Chairman and CEO, Windsor Aughtry.

Before leaving Greenville on Tuesday, the group had a wrap-up session to identify next steps

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

HEALTHY FATS-BELIEVE IT OR NOT

>>> B O O K R E V I E W

GETTING OUT OF THE MUD

The Alabama Good Roads Movement and Highway Administration, 1898–1928 Martin T. Olliff, Foreword by David O. Whitten

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artin T. Olliff recounts the history of the Good Roads Movement that arose in progressive-era Alabama, how it used the power of the state to achieve its objectives of improving market roads for farmers and highways for automobilists, and how state and federal highway administrations replaced the Good Roads Movement.

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re you afraid of fats? Most people are due to the recent hype of low fat advertising on food labels and packaging that has people looking for other things when getting food. “Low fat” and “fat free” have become standard on many food packages and most think by consuming these foods will help with weight loss.

Unfortunately, this is one of the biggest nutritional lies the public believes and probably will continue to believe unless otherwise told. Even then, many people will continue to buy low fat or fat free items because they are just that scared of fat. Did you know our body needs fat to survive? The problem is, most are consuming fats that are not the healthy ones so our bodies are still lacking fat although body weight is steadily rising.

Obesity rates actually increased when low fat diets and food labeling became the new norm.

The American Heart Association even says dietary fat is essential to give your body energy and support cell growth. The good fats help your body absorb nutrients and produce hormones. Healthy dietary fats are also the fuel your brain needs to function and it can actually assist in memory retention. They actually increase your body’s metabolism, which will help you in return to burn unwawnted body fat and in return actually help you lose weight. Below are the top foods that contain healthy fats that should be a staple in your diet.

Avocados The benefits of avocados are endless and they are one of the healthiest fruits you can consume. They are high in monounsaturated fats, which increase the good cholesterol (aka HDL’s) your body needs and lowers the bad cholesterol (aka LDL’s). They are packed with vitamin E that can help prevent various dieses and cancer, boosts the immune system, and acts as an ant-aging nutrient for your skin.

For pregnant women, avocado is a great source of folic acid, a vitamin that can help reduce the risk of birth defects.

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Coconut Oil Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia worldwide and research has found it is caused by the brains reduced ability to use glucose for energy in certain parts of the brain. Coconut oil is high in medium chain fatty acid and has proven to show immediate improvements in brain function when consumed by providing an alternative source of energy.

Coconut oil is loaded with saturated fats that again raise the food cholesterol and lower the bad cholesterol. Long-term use showed a reduced risk of heart disease and cardiovascular improvement.

Fish & Omega 3 Fatty Acids Fatty fish contain high levels of omega-3 fatty acids that are essential for the body and must be consume through food or supplementation because our body does not make them on its own. Just make sure when you are buying your fish look for “wild caught” on the package instead of “farm raised”. This is going to be your freshest, most natural form of the fish that doesn’t have the added hormones that can be harmful to the body. The highest levels of omega-3 fatty acids are in fish such as mackerel, tuna, salmon, and halibut. If you do not like fish, you should consider supplementing with high-grade fish oil.

Nuts Walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, and pistachios are high in the healthy fat we need. They can improve blood cholesterol and keep blood vessels healthy. Eating about a handful a day of these has been shown to reduce your risk of heart disease.

I always tell my patients to make sure they are raw nuts not roasted or sugar coated.

When flavor is added, most likely preservatives are used and that can take away from the nutritional value. These are to be eaten in moderation because they are high in calories.

In other parts of the world, fat has always been welcome at the dinner table and its no coincidence that they are not struggling like the United States with an obesity and health crisis. It is time we realize the truth, not all fats are created equal and our body needs fat to survive and function at an optimal level.

Getting Out of the Mud: The Alabama Good Roads Movement and Highway Administration, 1898–1928 explores the history of the Good Roads Movement and investigates the nature of early twentieth-century progressivism in the state. Martin T. Olliff reveals how middle-class reformers secured political, economic, and social power not only by fighting against corporate domination and labor recalcitrance but also by proposing alternative projects like road improvement and identifying the interests of the rising middle class as being the most important to public interest.

With the development of national markets in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Americans began to regard the nation as a whole, rather than their state or region, as the most important political entity. Many Alabamians wished to travel beyond their local communities in all seasons without getting stuck in the mud of rudimentary rutted dirt roads. The onset of the automobile age bolstered the need for roadmaking, alerting both automobilists and good roads advocates to the possibility of a new transportation infrastructure. The Good Roads Movement began promoting farm-to-market roads, then highways that linked cities, then those that connected states. Federal matching funds for road construction after 1916 led state and federal governments to supplant the Good Roads Movement, building and administering the highway system that emerged by the late 1920s.

Olliff’s study of how Alabamians dealt with strained resources and overcame serious political obstacles in order to construct a road system that would accommodate economic growth in the twentieth century may offer clues to the resurrection of a similar strategy in our modern era. Many problems are unchanged over the hundred years between crises: Alabamians demand good

roads and a government that has the capacity to build and maintain such an infrastructure while, at the same time, citizens are voting into office men and women who promise lower taxes and smaller government.

Authors/Editors Martin T. Olliff is a professor of history and the director of the Wiregrass Archives at Troy University Dothan Campus. He is also the editor of The Great War in the Heart of Dixie: Alabama in World War I and an editorial board member of both The Alabama Review: A Quarterly Journal of Alabama History and Provenance: Journal of the Society of Georgia Archivists.

Reviews “Olliff weaves a unique combination of history, sociology, political science, and economics to create a three-dimensional fabric.”

—David O. Whitten, author of Andrew Durnford: A Black Sugar Planter in the Antebellum South and coauthor of The Birth of Big Business in the United States, 1860–1914: Commercial, Extractive, and Industrial Enterprise “Getting Out of the Mud is an interesting and insightful study of the path Alabamians took to modern highway construction and management.”

—Matthew Downs, author of Transforming the South: Federal Development in the Tennessee Valley, 1915–1960 Awards winner of the 2016 Anne B. and James B. McMillan Prize in Southern History

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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BEST IN SHOW AT SUMMER NAMM 2017 HIGHLIGHTS GREAT NEW GEAR Best In Show, the popular NAMM University breakfast panel discussion, named 18 new products and four companies that exemplify excellence at Summer NAMM. Six retail experts shopped Summer NAMM and presented their favorite products and companies in four categories. On the morning of July 15, in the Music City Center Grand Ballroom, they discussed their selections in front of nearly 300 NAMM attendees.

The categories were: Best In Show — The best product or service that panelists saw at Summer NAMM Companies To Watch — Exhibitors with trendsetting products and/or services Gotta Stock It — Products that retailers want to stock right now, if they haven’t already Best Accessories And Add-ons — A great product from the smallgoods arena This year’s panelists were: • Robert Christie, President, A&G Central Music, Madison Heights, Michigan • Carol Cook, Owner, The Music Room, Palatine, Illinois • Todd Johnson, Manager, Groth Music, Bloomington, Minnesota • Bobby Montemurro, Senior Director, Pro Audio Sales and Marketing, Alto Music, Middletown, New York • Gabriel O’Brien, Sales Manager, Larry’s Music, Wooster, Ohio • Tim Spicer, Owner, Spicer’s Music, Auburn, Alabama Summer NAMM’s winners are listed below.

Best In Show Remo Rhythm Lid (Selected by Tim Spicer) “You can use them as hand drums, or you can pop them and slide them right onto any bucket that costs $2.50 at Lowes or Home Depot. Not only is this an affordable way for some of our younger students to get involved in drumming, but it is also an accessibility thing for me.”

Ortega Eclipse Series Guitars & Ukuleles (Selected by Carol Cook) “I just love this product. Itʼs beautiful. Itʼs well designed. Itʼs going to fly off our shelves. I can feel it already.”

Breedlove USA Series (Selected by Gabriel OʼBrien) “If youʼve ever gotten to the end of a gig and [you feel] like the “127 Hours” guy and youʼre ready to carve off your arm because your shoulder is killing you so bad, these weigh hardly anything. Theyʼre just killer guitars for the money and very ethically sourced. Itʼs a hard thing to find in this range thatʼs U.S.-made.”

Artiphon Instrument 1 (Selected by Todd Johnson) “It does everything.

Itʼs crazy. It looks like a space ship. It looks like a Chapman Stick from 2020. You can cradle it and play it like a violin. You can play it like a guitar. You can lay it down on the table and turn it into a keyboard. Itʼs really affordable.”

SJC Custom Drums Mappa & Bubinga Snare Drum (Selected by Robert Christie) “Theyʼre a custom drum manufacturer. They make stuff thatʼs eye-catching, beautiful and sounds amazing.”

Universal Audio OX (Selected by Bobby Montemurro) “You can put it in the guitar department, and it can start a conversation. It becomes a conversation about DSP, about plug-ins, about how easy it is to get into home recording, and how you can, basically, get a great guitar sound without buying a $10,000 guitar rig. Itʼs pretty hip.”

Gotta Stock It MXR Carbon Copy Deluxe (Selected by Tim Spicer) “Itʼs just a triedand-true delay pedal. We sell a ton of [MXR] pedals. Theyʼve just come out with this Carbon Copy Deluxe, which has everything you need, including the same carbon copy tones. We project that this pedal is going to take off. If youʼre in the guitar pedal world, I would highly suggest you throw this in your store.”

Loog Guitars (Selected by Carol Cook) “I love the Loog series of guitars because there are three strings on this neck — and only three strings — and they are tuned identically to the first three strings on a guitar. First of all, it makes for faster and easier learning on the guitar.

When itʼs time to transition into a six string, it makes for a seamless transition.”

Vintage Guitars (Selected by Gabriel OʼBrien) “They just have killer, killer designs. They play great, and they sound amazing. Theyʼre really affordable. We love them.”

Yamaha P-115B Keyboard (Selected by Todd Johnson) “Itʼs a simple, 88-key instrument with graded-hammer action. You can split it. You can layer it. Itʼs simple to run. Itʼs not complex. You just turn them every day. I canʼt keep them in stock. I just have to give kudos to Yamaha for their Yamaha P-115B. Itʼs a proven seller.”

Hamilton KB130E iPad Tablet Holder (Selected by Robert Christie) “The Hamilton KB130E iPad Tablet Holder holds any size tablet. The adapter on the bottom is just a standard microphone stand adapter, so thatʼs great. It also comes with this little device that will allow you to adjust it to fit on virtually any kind of stand. It allows you to stock one item that will cover a bunch of your customers.”

Korg Grandstage Digital Stage Piano (Selected by Bobby Montemurro) “On the retail floor, itʼs just going to pop. Itʼs got seven different sound engines. The way itʼs laid out is incredibly intuitive.”

Companies to Watch Supro (Selected by Tim Spicer) “Supro is coming back, and theyʼre on fire right now. Not only do they have some awesome amps and pedals but they also have great guitars and basses. They feel great, they sound great, and theyʼve really taken off.”

Ortega Guitars (Selected by Carol Cook) “We have been a dealer for Ortega for about a year now, and thereʼs a lot of things in the last year that I've experienced just by having an affiliation with the company.”

LD Systems (Selected by Gabriel OʼBrien) “LD Systems is a killer company to work with. They make really great portable P.A.ʼs. When I started out as a singer-songwriter, the worst part of any gig was setting up and breaking down. Think about walking into a gig or coffeehouse and literally being able to set up [really] fast. It sounds great. It will fill a room, and it has multiple channels. They also have Bluetooth. Itʼs a great product at an astounding price point.”

Cherub Technology (Selected by Todd Johnson) “Most of the worldʼs tuners are made by one company — Cherub. And, theyʼre here now.

For a long time, the Cherub brand wasnʼt available in the U.S., but itʼs all been in Europe. They make just about everybodyʼs tuners, except for maybe a couple. Cherub has kind of branched out. Theyʼve got the NUX pedal line, capos and metronomes.”

Zylia (Selected by Robert Christie) “You can make a circle around the microphone, and you can get a really good recording with just one microphone. Once youʼve got that recording, the software does its magic, and breaks it into individual tracks. This will give you a multitrack recording that sounds fantastic. One microphone, one cable and one computer. Itʼs really cool.”

Universal Audio (Selected by Bobby Montemurro) “A lot of these companies will make the same thing over and over again. Universal Audio seems to take a new approach to everything they release and come up with what they believe is the best version of their product — not necessarily what their competitors are doing. I think the stuff they do is groundbreaking.”

CHAMBER NEWS, continued from page 5

Best Accessories and Add-ons drumdots (Selected by Tim Spicer) “When we heard about drumdots we thought we would give them a shot, and we were blown away with not only how well they performed but how easily they sold themselves.”

Cooperstand Pro Instrument Stands (Selected by Carol Cook) “We have a classy looking store, if I say so myself, and these instrument stands are very classy looking. Theyʼre wooden. They collapse into two or three times smaller the size. You can put it in your gig bag. Itʼs very affordable.”

Mayor Walt Maddox and Brendan Moore of the City of Tuscaloosa and Bobby Bragg, JamisonMoneyFarmer PC.

Dr. Theresa Welbourne, The University of Alabama Culverhouse College of Commerce and Jo Bonner, The University of Alabama System.

Digitech SDRUM (Selected by Gabriel OʼBrien) “Itʼs a drum machine for guitar players, which means itʼs really simple to use because guitar players canʼt do complicated things. I love it. Iʼve been a big fan of their Trio pedal, and itʼs based on that technology.”

Option Knob WingMan (Selected by Todd Johnson) “It gives you the ability to adjust [your effects pedal] with your foot. Itʼs really a cool little device. Itʼs really affordable. Itʼs a great counter piece.”

Killer Q Killer Quick Release Saxophone Strap (Selected by Robert Christie) “Itʼs super easy to adjust, which is good for the kids. You can play tug of war with it, you can't break it, and it wonʼt slide down, so your sax stays put.”

Scott Stephens, Max Snyder and Bruce Higginbotham, The City of Northport.

Steve Diorio and Jabaree Prewitt, WVUA 23.

Isovox 2 (Selected by Bobby Montemurro) “It allows everyone to have a world-class studio environment in their house. It looks like a storm trooper helmet.”

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AUG 9 + AUG 23

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>>> R E S TAU R A N T R E V I E W | S H E E N A G R E G G

Photos Courtesy of Sheena Gregg

URBAN COOKHOUSE//BUY LOCAL EAT URBAN

I

will go ahead and admit that I am one of the many folks in Tuscaloosa in denial that another fall academic season is upon us. Sure that means football , barbecue, and all things pumpkin; however, I still long for the long summer days, trips to the beach, and fresh light flavors involved in sunny seasons. This transition to August has been rough for me, and it gets even rougher on rainy Mondays when I’m not ready for school to be in session and lunch field trips in town with friends become more difficult. Working on UA’s campus, a lunch trip to a restaurant that has no campus affiliation can often be a breath of fresh air.

On this particular rainy Monday, I knew I was on a mission to have lunch at a “getaway” restaurant in Tuscaloosa. For me this often involves traveling over the bridge to the other side of Tuscaloosa and Northport to escape my lovely campus bubble. Racking my brain for something yummy, I decided to head to Urban Cookhouse to savor the last delicious flavors of summer.

Though I had eaten at other Urban Cookhouse locations in Birmingham and Montgomery in the past, it wasn’t until earlier this summer that I learned how committed the restaurant is to supporting local farmers in Alabama. I also hadn’t realized that despite the original restaurant debuting in Homewood in 2007, Urban Cookhouse owners David and Andrea Snyder are both alums of UA with family in

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AUG 9 + AUG 23

Cottondale and Holt.

Checking out the menu at Urban Cookhouse for lunch, I was surprised once again at the level of variety that the restaurant has to offer. I was definitely in the mood for some fruits and veggies, but not completely sold on getting a salad as my main entrée. As a creature of habit typically getting the grilled chicken special, I had to take some extra time to evaluate my cravings. I got pumped once I noticed I could get the Berry Good salad as a wrap. Featuring seasonal berries, tomatoes, spiced pecans, lettuce, and grilled chicken, I knew this would be the perfect filling in a wheat wrap.

Taking a peek at the side items, I decided to venture away from the roasted veggies and try out the hot cheddar pasta I always watch my friends order.

Filling up my beverage, I already had another “win” as I noticed that Urban Cookhouse had the nice pellet type ice ready for crunching without breaking a molar. Though the kitchen and catering staff appeared to be aggressively working on several catering orders, I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly my plate was placed in front of me. Quickly I noticed the large spiced pecan poking out of my wrap, along with the ample amount of cheese on my penne pasta. I couldn’t decide what I wanted to take my first bite of but eventually settled on wanting to taste my pasta while

it was fresh and hot. Gooey and delicious, the hot cheddar pasta was all that I expected it to be. I immediately took in a mouthful of my Berry Good wrap loving the contrast between the savory chicken and tart berries.

Despite the summer coming to an end, I know that I’ll always have Urban Cookhouse as an escape to summer favorites. Once it cools down, I can’t wait to transition to my

fall favorite lime-marinated steak and rice!

Urban Cookhouse is located in the Village at Northbank and opened daily. Tweet us @ThePlanetWeekly and let us know where you are eating!

Sheena Gregg, MS, RDN,LD is a registered dietitian and local Filipino Foodie. Follow her on Twitter @ TheThriftyRD

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FUNKY BUDDHA BREWERY// RAVENSWOOD OLD VINE BLUEBERRY COBBLER ZINFANDEL NAPA VALLEY F

lavored beers can be fun and a change of pace for someone who is constantly drinking the same thing. There’s nothing wrong with a beer that has some sort of fruit flavoring added to it, but some people will argue that it’s too “feminine” or just not good, but I couldn’t disagree more. It’s extremely difficult to get a good flavor into a beer. So when I see one that’s a bit more interesting, I usually have to try it even if it misses the mark most of the time.

Fortunately, Funky Buddha from Oakland Park, FL is well-versed in the extreme flavors department.

They have beers that range from lemon icebox pie to maple bacon and coffee, so clearly they know what they’re doing. I recently saw that they had a Blueberry Cobbler Ale, a base wheat beer but then has blueberries, vanilla, and cinnamon added, and I knew I had to get my hands on it. It just so happened that I was in Florida a couple of weeks ago and stopped into a local bottle shop/ gas station to buy some beer. I looked in the cooler and there was a single bottle of the Blueberry Cobbler Ale and I knew it would be mine. I took it home and opened it and was blown away by the flavors and more so the idea of crafting something so mind boggling. Here are my thoughts: I didn’t pour this one into a bottle, but from what I’ve read and seen online the beer pours a nice purple to blue-ish hue, due to the use of real blueberries, with about a half inch of off-white head that sticks around for a while. The smell was amazing and more like cobbler than I was expecting, to be honest. I got hints of the cinnamon and vanilla, but not much of the blueberries until the beer warmed a bit. It’s pretty interesting and not something I had ever experienced before. The use of vanilla and cinnamon combine to make something that really does remind you of the crust or the crumble depending on if you always had pie or cobbler.

Really quite nice and very much a sensory overload.

Taste is where it lost me a little bit, but not something that really pushed me away. The flavor was mostly vanilla with hints of milky sweetness. You do pick up a little bit of the blueberries on the back end, but nothing too strong. I do wish there would have been a good bit more blueberry in the taste because, well, it’s in the name and I expected it to be almost like a

mouthful of blueberries. With that being said, the beer is really easy to drink and nothing is too harsh so that you can’t enjoy it. I very much enjoyed the flavor, I just wish some things were a little different in a few places.

Mouthfeel was smooth and creamy, which really drove home the flavor of the cobbler, but again the blueberries would have added a lot here. The carbonation level was light to medium, which did help the small amount of blueberry flavor. One thing I have noticed with any of Funky Buddha's wheat beers is that they're usually pretty heavy and I can only drink one or two before feeling like I have concrete in my stomach. Floridian, a German hefeweizen, is the same way and I really wish I could drink so much more of that beer at a time, because it's so refreshing.

Overall, this is a decently done beer, but it just lacks in a few places where I wished it would shine. The blueberry flavor was light, but I've come to expect it from beers that use natural ingredients rather than artificial flavorings. I definitely applaud Funky Buddha on their continued use of real fruits and real spices in their beers, so I can always overlook a lighter fruit flavor in their products because I know it's coming from real fruit. I'm not sure of the price point on a 4 pack of this beer, but I'm not sure I would seek it out. Although, I would definitely drink one or two if I saw it on draft somewhere. Either way, if you see it drink it and continue to support breweries who try adventurous things and that are always experimenting.

Cheers!

R

avenswood Old Vine Zinfandel Napa Valley comes from the Ravenswood winery in Geyserville, California, USA. Fruit for this wine was sourced from several Napa Valley vineyards including Hendry, Perez, Luvisi, Balyeat, Dickerson and Chaix.

This wine is actually a blend of 86% Zinfandel and 14% Petite Sirah.

In 2017 this wine won a Silver Medal in the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

For comparison purposes, I’ve also reviewed Ravenswood Old Vine Zinfandel Vinter’s Blend.

I once again had help from my friend “Big Al” for this review. Spoiler alert, he’s been to Ravenswood and loves their wines.

From the bottle: Our Napa Zin is made from small, thickskinned grapes that bring powerful, take-noprisoners flavors with classic Napa Valley soul.

Sample of 2014 Ravenswood Old Vine Zinfandel Napa Valley received for review purposes.

For more info about this wine check out the Ravenswood Winery website.

Appearance In the glass, we found this wine to be quite dark.

I called it extra dark ruby in color.

Al quantified it as very dark Burgundy.

Long story short, it’s a dark wine!

Legs are numerous and slow falling, though rather thin.

Aroma On the nose, I picked up some minerality along with various black fruits. For Al it was red fruits, with a hint of tobacco.

There was no standout alcohol burn in the nose when we gave this wine a good whiff.

Ravenswood alcohol content 15.0% by volume, per the bottle.

Taste Al, who is never at a loss for words, immediately stated “smooth with a lovely flavor that greets you like an old recliner.”

And he was totally right. Ravenswood Old Vine Zinfandel Napa Valley is very smooth with bursting flavors of vanilla, tobacco and crushed black cherries.

Delicious!

Mouthfeel and Tannins We found the wine to have a lush and velvety mouthfeel. Tannins were very supple and most noticeable on the edges of the tongue.

Finish Finish is long and enjoyable.

It starts with the flavor and slowly diminishes to the tannins.

Overall Opinion Overall, we both loved this wine.

I found that there was something about the first burst of flavor that really captured my attention. It was so smooth and enjoyable.

I also really enjoyed the subtlety of the tannins. All in all, I found the wine to be very balanced and well-refined.

Having been to the winery, Al admitted that he carried a favorable bias towards Ravenswood coming in to the review.

However, in his final weigh-in he said, “… the bias is well-deserved.

Ravenswood has produced another winner with this exquisite Old-Vine Zinfandel.”

Ravenswood Old Vine Zinfandel Napa Valley suggested retail price $18.00.

Suggested Food Pairing Al says pair this with Jon’s famous grilled New York Strip! Which we soon did and oh was it a great pairing!

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AUG 9 + AUG 23

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

FOUR RECIPES USING REFRIGERATED CRESCENT ROLLS If you have refrigerated crescent rolls on hand, and are tired of having them as a side dish at dinner, try one of these recipes to prepare something different for dinner tonight.

Crescent rolls are very versatile and can be used in casseroles, as crusts, and even in desserts.

ONE DISH BREAKFAST 1 can crescent rolls 1/2 lb. ground sausage 1 1/2 cups hash browns, thawed 3 eggs 1/2 c. grated cheddar cheese

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

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

CHEESY CASSEROLE 1 lb. hamburger 1/4 c. chopped onion 1 8-oz. can tomato sauce 1 pkg. spaghetti sauce mix 1/4 c. chopped green pepper, optional 1 small can mushrooms, optional 3/4 c. sour cream 3 oz. mozzarella cheese, grated 2 oz. cheddar cheese, grated salt and pepper 1 can crescent rolls

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 Mr. Bill's Family Restaurant 2715 McFarland Blvd | Tuscaloosa // 333.9312 Panera Bread 1800 McFarland Blvd *402 | Tuscaloosa // 366.8780 Quick Grill 1208 University Blvd | The Strip | Tuscaloosa // 342.0022 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

Brown meat and onion. Add tomato sauce, spaghetti sauce mix and optional green pepper, and mushrooms. Salt and pepper to taste. In a 9 x 9" baking dish, layer meat mixture, then sour cream, then cheese. Place unrolled crescent rolls on top to make crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

VEGGIE PIZZA 2 cans crescent rolls, not separated 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened 3/4 c. mayonnaise or miracle whip 1/2 c. sour cream 1 tbsp. dill weed 1/2 tbsp. garlic salt 2 c. cauliflower, finely chopped 2 c. broccoli, finely chopped 3 carrots, shredded 3/4 c. shredded Cheddar cheese

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 T-Town Café 500 14th Street, Tuscaloosa | 759-5559 |www.ttowncafe.com Mon - Fri 6am - 3pm; Sat - Closed; Sun 10:30am - 3pm The Waysider 1512 Greensboro Ave // 345.8239 Open for breakfast and lunch. Smoke free.

MEXICAN

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.

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

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

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

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine cream cheese, sugar, egg yolks. Beat at medium speed until well blended and smooth. Stir in raisins and lemon peel. Set aside.

Open package of rolls and roll out to 1/4 inch thickness. Spread with 1/2 bread crumbs and cream cheese mixture. Roll and seal end. Repeat with other package of rolls.

Place on cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees until brown and golden. Brush with milk before baking.

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

CREAM CHEESE STRUDEL 4 (3 oz.) pkg. cream cheese 1/2 c. sugar 3 egg yolks 1/2 c. light raisins 2 tsp. grated lemon peel 1/2 c. melted butter 1/3 c. dry bread crumbs 2 cans crescent rolls

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

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

Line bottom and sides of ungreased jelly roll pan with crescent rolls. Bake as directed on package until golden brown. Cool. Mix cream cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, dill weed and garlic salt until creamy. Spread over crust. Press cauliflower and broccoli into dip mixture. Sprinkle with carrots and cheese. Chill completely before serving. Serves 24 or more.

AUG 9 + AUG 23

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

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

Spread crescent rolls on cookie sheet. Seal all seams and curl up edges slightly. Pour over rolls the drained and cooked sausage, then uncooked hash browns, beaten eggs, and cheese. Season to taste. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 40 minutes.

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>>> RESTAURANTS |

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

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>>> 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

CRAFT BEER | WINE | BARCADE | GROWLERS

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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AUG 9 + AUG 23

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

AUG 9 + AUG 23

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.

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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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AUG 9 + AUG 23

13

>>> PET PLANET

CANNON // FUN DOG

LUNA // BOBTAIL KITTEN

E

veryone meet our Pet of the week, Cannon! He is a 2 to 3-year-old male dachshund mix with a beautiful, reddish brown, smooth coat on his long body and short legs. He is small and full grown, weighing only 18 pounds.

his week’s Pet of the Week is beautiful Luna! She is a solid black, very sleek, bobtail girl about 3-year-old and was surrendered to the shelter because of conflict with the family dog.

This fun little fellow is just full of energy! He loves people and loves to be with you. He will flip over for a belly rub in a heartbeat. Cannon would be fine in an apartment as long as he gets daily walks.

Luna loves to play fetch, is very affectionate, loves to cuddle, and ride on your shoulder! Unfortunately, as her time passes in the shelter she is becoming more withdrawn and doesn’t play as much but is still very affectionate and loving and will be a great addition to your family!

T

Cannon is up to date on his vet care, is neutered, heart-worm negative, and microchipped. He is also on heartworm and flea/tick prevention. We are working on his crate training now!

Cannon is such a cutie who will add so much happiness to your life!

If you are interested in giving CANNON or LUNA 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.

Please call 205-554-0011 or visit humanesocietyofwa.org to request an appointment to meet our available animals.

GET NOTICED ADVERTISE IN PLANET WEEKLY.

To learn more, please email PlanetEditor@yahoo.com

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 ›› MATCHBOX 20 ›› CHRIS YOUNG IS COMIN' OVER ›› BEATING THE HEAT ›› TRANSFORMERS ›› CONFEDERATES ›› 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

JULY 26 + AUG 9

1

Next Issue // August 23

Advertising Deadline: Friday, August 18 205-523-4668//205-792-7239

theplanetweekly.com 14

AUG 9 + AUG 23

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

DUNKIRK // A FAIR WAR MOVIE

★★

OU T OF 4

T

raditional armchair generals should know Christopher Nolan's World War II epic "Dunkirk" has little to do with the battle of Dunkirk. You won't see German Panzer Corps careening through Belgium and plowing into France. In fact, the only Germans in "Dunkirk" are either flying aircraft (so cannot see them) or show up as infantry from unknown units.

Instead, "Dunkirk" confines itself strictly to the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Forces (B.E.F.) in three segments: one on land covering one week, one on sea covering one day, and one in the air covering one hour. Of course, much, much more occurred at Dunkirk than just the wholesale evacuation. Presumably, the "Dark Knight" filmmaker didn’t want to overwhelm himself with an ambitious battle extravaganza.

"Dunkirk" was produced for $100-million, and likely millions went to publicity. So, if you're looking for something like "The Longest Day" (1962), "Battle of the Bulge" (1965), "Anzio" (1968), "A Bridge Too Far" (1977), "Saving Private Ryan" (1998), and "Hacksaw Ridge" (2016), prepare to be disappointed. "Dunkirk" doesn't recreate historic battlefield combat, not even the infamous Wormhoudt Massacre. Adolf Hitler’s WaffenSS soldiers slaughtered as many as 80 British soldiers along with some French POWs. The cold-hearted SS crowded these prisoners into a stable, tossed in stick-grenades, and then finished them off with bursts of machine gun fire. Something like this might have given "Dunkirk" greater dramatic gravity. Instead, we see neither German tanks nor troops storming through France and Belgium. This 107-minute movie boils down to a series of survival episodes that occurred at Dunkirk. Notably, the RAF preferred to confine their resources largely to the island in preparation for the inevitable Battle of Britain, later made into the exemplary film "Battle of Britain" (1969). Along with the RAF, the courageous Royal Navy and the Small Boat Owners emerge as the heroes who rescued the BEF waiting anxiously on the beach.

"Dunkirk" opens with several British infantrymen sauntering down a road inside the Dunkirk city limits as the Luftwaffe showers them with propaganda leaflets. No sooner have they had a moment to glance at these surrender summons than gunfire erupts from an unknown source.

As they scramble for cover, unseen shooters kill all them except Tommy (newcomer Fiona Whitehead), who crosses a street and comes under fire then from French troops. They wave him toward their lines, and later he wanders onto the beaches.

As far as he can see, queues of troops are standing on the beach awaiting transport. "Spectre" lenser Hoyte Van Hoytema's atmospheric cinematography shows these soldiers in their brown uniforms standing like ducks in neat, orderly rows on white beaches. These scenes resemble something out of "Lawrence of Arabia" in all their sprawling immensity. Van Hoytema's cinematography adds to the spectacle of the event. Not long afterward, as Tommy tours the beach, screaming Stuka dive-bombers plunge from the skies, seeding the beaches with bombs. The worst death in "Dunkirk" occurs when one of these bombs blast a British soldier to smithereens as he shoots vainly at a Stuka. Tommy meets another soldier under mysterious circumstances on the beach. Might he be a German saboteur? Without challenging him about his strange behavior, Tommy pitches in to help him. They become fast friends who desperately break the rules and the lines so they can get aboard a transport. Cheekily, they seize a stretcher case awaiting transport and dash to an embarkation station. They reach the ship at the last minute, but they are sent packing because they weren’t Red Cross personnel. Nolan has these two heading off to find passage elsewhere by any means whatever. Their exploits turn into shenanigans as they deal with one

setback after another, even after they stow aboard a ship.

Although the RAF lost fewer planes than the Luftwaffe: 145 to 156, "Dunkirk" shows no more than six Spitfire fighters cruising the English Channel in search of prey. Again, budgetary concerns may explain the aircraft shortages. Also, Nolan doesn't go for too much CGI, so he resorted to cardboard cutouts of troops on the beach. Nevertheless, we get one hour's worth of the RAF giving the Luftwaffe utter Hell.

Predictably, one pilot perishes in a crash, another ditches in the sea, but the third is far more fortunate.

RAF pilot Farrier (Tom Hardy of "Mad Max: Fury Road") riddles repeatedly the Luftwaffe in "Dunkirk's" most exciting scenes. Christopher Nolan does a decent job of staging several

tense scenes of soldiers confronting catastrophe. Unfortunately, apart from Tom Hardy's RAF pilot, Kenneth Blangah’s Naval officer (rarely endangered), Mark Rylance as an intrepid civilian sailor, and Cillian Murphy as a shell-shocked soldier, celebrity movie stars of prominence are far and few between in this epic. Indeed, most of the actors are unknown, except perhaps for "One-Direction" singer Harry Styles. Suspense works best when a character is conspicuous enough either as an actor or as a character for us to care about.

Everybody is virtually a nobody in "Dunkirk." Meantime, evoking sympathy for soldiers so desperate that they take refuge in a beached ship and become targets seems like the province of a horror chiller.

Quoting the cliché, they die like fish in a barrel during target practice.

Indeed, two of the soldiers trapped in the boat are the same duo who have tried to bluff their way board a Red Cross ship. Oscar winning actor Mark Rylance has one of the better roles as a small boat owner who has already lost a son in the RAF. The episode with the shell-shocked soldier involving the inconsequential treatment of a civilian teen is the least savory scene. Nevertheless, Rylance's character is never in jeopardy. Often wearing an aviator's oxygen mask, Tom Hardy looks like the villainous Bane from Nolan's "The Dark Knight Rises," but he comes closest to being a blood and guts hero. Ultimately, despite its heartfelt tribute to British resiliency in the face of annihilation, "Dunkirk" qualifies as a fair war movie.

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AUG 9 + AUG 23

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>>> E V E N T S FRIDAY, AUG 11 Skyy Promotions Inc. Presents: Battle at the Belk 2017 WHEN: 7:00pm- 12:00pm COST: $25+ WHERE: Belk Center 2101 Bowers Park Dr Tuscaloosa, AL 35405 PHONE: (205) 391-9200 LINK: http://www.tcpara.org/page/142/belk_ center DESCRIPTION: After a great event earlier this year, we are bringing another Pro Show to Tuscaloosa in August! Please make plans to attend as Deon Nicholson, Thomas Knox,and Robert Alfonso with other local talent will continue their climb in the pro ranks! Tickets start at $25 and those tickets will sell out fast! So make sure you get your tickets for Tuscaloosa's premier professional sports experience!

SATURDAY, AUG 12 Screen On The Green- "Moana" WHEN: 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm COST: free WHERE: Midtown Village 1701 McFarland Blvd. and 15th Street Tuscaloosa, AL 35404 PHONE: (866) 644-2521 LINK: http://www.midtownvillagetuscaloosa. com/ DESCRIPTION: Don't miss Disney's "Moana" this Saturday, August 12 at 8pm during Screen On The Green, Midtown Village's Free Summer Movie Series. Movies are shown on The Green by the Children's Play Area at Midtown Village.

Bring the kids, your lawn chairs, blankets and enjoy movies under the stars! Location: Midtown Village 1800 McFarland Blvd. East Tuscaloosa, AL 35404 http://www.midtownvillagetuscaloosa. com THURSDAY, AUG 17 Art with Friends WHEN: 5:30pm- 7:30pm COST: free WHERE: Tuscaloosa Museum of Art: Home of the Westervelt Collection 1400 Jack Warner Parkway Tuscaloosa, AL 35404 PHONE: (205) 391-0749 LINK: http://www.tcpara.org/page/142/belk_ center DESCRIPTION: The event is called "Art with Friends" the third Thursday of each month 5:30-7:30. The monthly event Art with Friends is geared towards those who have an interest in art and those who simply would like to enjoy an evening in the museum. The event typically has a brief program that coincides with a work in the collection, an artist, or a theme. It is free and open to the public drinks and hors d'oeuvre will be served FRIDAY, AUG 18 Alabama Soccer Match vs Jacksonville State University WHEN: 7:00pm -9:00pm COST:free WHERE: Alabama Soccer Complex 500 Fifth Avenue East Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 PHONE: (205) 348-2612 DESCRIPTION: The Alabama Soccer team is facing Jacksonville State University. This is the first regular season game for the Crimson Tide and the team needs you to be there. Alabama Soccer is always FREE so there is no reason not to come out and support your Crimson Tide.

FRIDAY, AUG 18 Auditions: The 39 Steps WHEN: 7:00pm -9:00pm COST: http://www.theatretusc.com/shows/the39-steps/ WHERE: Bama Theatre 600 Greensboro Ave Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 PHONE: (205) 391-2277 LINK: http://www.theatretusc.com/shows/the39-steps/

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AUG 9 + AUG 23

DESCRIPTION: Synopsis: Mix a hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel, add a dash of Monty Ptyhon, and you have The 39 Steps, a fast-paced whodunit! This two-time Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning treat-of-a-mystery is packed with nonstop laughs, over 150 zany characters, an on-stage plane crash, handcuffs, missing fingers and some good old-fashioned romance! It's fun for ages 11 and up. When: Friday, August 18 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, August 19 at 2 p.m. Where: Wilson Carr Rehearsal Hall just off the lobby of the BeanBrown Theatre Available Roles: three male, one female What to Prepare: cold readings from the script and improvisational games Rehearsals will begin August 21, and are generally M-F evenings and some Sunday afternoons. The final schedule will be published after casting.

SATURDAY, AUG 19 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 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!

SATURDAY, AUG 19 Johnny Shines Blues Festival at Band of Brothers WHEN: 11:00am -10:0pm COST: WHERE:Band of Brothers Brewing Company 1605 23rd Avenue Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 PHONE: (205) 266-5137 LINK: https://www.facebook.com/brewingbrothe rs/?rf=528097770684009 DESCRIPTION: The Johnny Shines Blues Festival will be held at Band of Brothers Brewing Co, Saturday, August 19, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fans are urged to check out the Band of Brothers Facebook page for updates.

SATURDAY, AUG 19 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 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!

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>>> ROAD TRIP | S O U T H E A S T E R N CO N C E R T S A N D E V E N T S

BIRMINGHAM

NASHVILLE

ATLANTA

 Friday, Aug 11 Saturn//Alegandro Escovedo

 Saturday, Aug 12 Bridgestone Arena//Matchbox Twenty & Counting Crows  Sunday, Aug 13 Bridgestone Arena//Roger Waters

 Saturday, Aug 12 Lakewood Amphitheatre//Kiss 104.1 Annual Flashback Festival

 Saturday, Aug 12 Lyric Theatre//Tig Notaro BJCC//Babypalooza Baby & Maternity Expo

 Sunday, Aug 13 The Alabama Theatre//Gone with the Wind  Tuesday, Aug 15 McWane Science Center//Birmingham Sci Café

 Wednesday, Aug 16 Comedy Club Stardome//Julie Scoggins Zydeco//All the Locals w/ Cahaba & Five Shot  Thursday, Aug 17 Sloss Furnace//Umphrey’s Mcgee Avondale Brewing Company//Shakey Graves  Friday, Aug 18 Lyric Theatre//Paul Thorn Legacy Arena at the BJCC//Future and Friends//The Future is Now  Sunday, Aug 20 The Alabama Theatre//Lyle Lovett  Tuesday, Aug 22 Saturn//Betty Who

 Friday, Aug 25 Zydeco//Perpetual Groove w/ Little Raine Band Iron City//The Cadillac Three

 Saturday, Aug 26 Workplay Theatre//Surburban Love Junkies and Erath Old Oak Mountain Amphitheatre//R. Kelly Legacy Arena at the BJCC//Rick and Bubba Outdoors  Friday, Sept 1 The Alabama Theatre//Anthony Hamilton  Thursday, Sept 7 Oak Mountain Amphitheatre//Lady Antebellum

 Tuesday, Aug 15 Marathon Music Works//A Day to Remember James K. Polk theater//Leslie Odom Jr.  Thursday, Aug 17 Bridgestone Arena//Earth Wind and fire Ryman Auditorium//Happy Together Tour  Friday, Aug 18 Ryman Auditorium//Aaron Lewis Carl Black Chevy Woods//Lifehouse and Switchfoot

 Saturday, Aug 19 Lakewood Amphitheatre//Streetzfeet 2K17 Bridgestone Arena//Built Ford Tough Series The Franklin Theatre//Christopher Cross  Sunday, Aug 20 The Basement East//The Dead Daisies/ The Dives

 Wedensday, Aug 23 Ryman Auditorium//11th Annual ACM Honors Ascend Amphitheater//Accu Check Guide Guitar BQue  Friday, Aug 25 Ryman Auditorium//Loretta Lynn

 Saturday, Aug 26 Ascend Amphitheater//Govt mule with Blackberry Smoke

 Sunday, Aug 27 Schermerhorn Symphony Center//Buddy Guy  Wednesday, Aug 30 Brigestone Arena//Kendrick Lamar, Yg, & Dram

 Thursday, Aug 31 Ryman Auditorium//The Cadillac Three  Friday, Sep 1 Rocketown//Metro Station

 Friday, Sep 8 Ryman Auditorium//Judah & The Lion

 Sunday, Aug 13 Lakewood Amphitheatre//Matchbox Twenty Infinite Energy Center//Lionel Richie & Mariah Carey

 Tuesday, Aug 15 Fabulous Fox Theatre//An American In Paris  Wednesday, Aug 16 Atlanta Symphony Hall//Donald Fagen

 Saturday, Aug 19 Lakewood Amphitheatre//Streetzfest 2K17 Atlanta Symphony Hall//Lyle Lovett and His Large Band Verizon Amphitheatre//Earth, Wind and Fire & Nile Rodgers The Masquerade//Alesana Wolf Creek Amphitheater//A-Town Music Fest  Monday, Aug 21 Chastain Park Amphitheater//Deep Purple & Alice Cooper  Friday, Aug 25 Wolf Creek Amphitheater//R. Kelly

 Saturday, Aug 26 Wolf Creek Amphitheater//Patti Labelle Fabulous Fox Theatre//Stephanie Mills Live Infinite Energy Center//Ed Sheeran Mable House Amphitheatre//Eric Benet  Saturday, Sep 2 Fabulous Fox Theatre//K-Ci and Jojo & Dru Hill

 Sunday, Sep 3 Wolf Creek Amphitheater//Anthony Hamilton and Tank

 Monday, Sep 4 Chastain Park Amphitheater//Goo Goo Dolls  Wednesday, Sep 6 Cobb Energy Performing Arts//Taeyang 2017 World Tour

 Friday, Sep 8 Verizon Amphitheatre//Lady Antebellum

>>> 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

AUG 9 + AUG 23

19

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

Across 1. Christens 5. Grind, as one's teeth 10. Responds to applause 14. "Time ___ My Side" (Rolling Stones hit) 15. Attend to loose laces 16. Make ____ stop 17. Big name in furniture 19. Narrow street 20. Goals to shoot for 21. TV's Dr. Keith 22. Actor DiCaprio 26. One parted from his money?

30. Sons, sometimes 34. Good Charlotte guitarist Madden 35. Revolve 36. Dock workers' org.

37. Smaller in amount 39. One-time CIA chief 42. Ending for all or quiet 43. Nagy of Hungary 47. "No prob!"

48. River mouths 51. "Hasta la ___!"

52. In direct competition 54. Quivered 57. Arab chieftan's jurisdiction 62. Chickens' home 63. Go signal 66. Seagulls' cry in the French version of "Finding Nemo"?

67. Phrase of agreement 68. Complain 69. Capital of Qatar 70. Modeling wood 71. Divine's "Hairspray" role

SOLUTION FOR PUZZLEMANIA CROSSWORD ON PAGE 21

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AUG 9 + AUG 23

Down 1. Eating plan 2. Org. for Borg 3. 1922 physics Nobelist 4. Stumbling block 5. Fireplace log support 6. Some holds 7. Falcons, on scoreboards 8. German pronoun 9. Queen of the coop 10. Panamanian currency 11. Fiery gem 12. AA candidate 13. One-dish meal 18. "South Pacific" heroine 21. Some are classified 23. Afternoon snooze 24. French pal 25. Tear violently 26. Once in ___ moon 27. Serves a meal to 28. First appearance, as of symptoms 29. Breakfast bevs.

31. Plaid garments 32. Choose for office 33. Alexander, for short 38. Laugh in French 40. Show, as plans 41. My ___ Massacre 44. Sch. near Harvard 45. Rock's ____ Speedwagon 46. Highly regards 49. Land of milk and honey 50. NASA thumbs up 53. "Labor ___ Vincit" (Oklahoma motto) 54. Ton 55. Ecce ___ 56. "That was awesome!"

58. "____ of the Ancient Mariner" 59. Vertical Horizon's "You're ____" 60. Larger ____ life 61. Sicily's highest point 63. Prattle 64. Cape Town country, briefly 65. Ending for arbor or ether

>>> PUZZLEMANIA| S U D O K U

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

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>>> HOROSCOPES | W E E K L Y O V E R V I E W Tensions could emerge that are related to your work/life balance and your relationship between your family and worldly responsibilities. This can be an opportunity to clear the air and explain to others more about your intentions. Even so, you might need to make a radical decision concerning your job or a personal ambition. It’s also possible that events could alter your plans anyway, and new opportunities may become available as a result.

Time spent in good company can help you feel more upbeat.

This week, feelings could reach a peak and be a cause of intense discussion. If you and another can’t see eye to eye, matters could intensify, with the possibility of a falling out. But if you can approach this more sensitively and be willing to put yourself in the other person’s shoes, a more positive solution may be found.

Communicative Mercury, your guide planet, turns retrograde at the end of the week, which could be a cause of misunderstandings if you aren’t careful.

A financial matter may need attention, particularly if it’s something you’ve so far avoided. With a lunar eclipse across your money axis, you might need to make a swift decision or take action to settle a key matter. However, this can also be a turning point for you and perhaps an opportunity to reorganize your affairs. On another note, it might be wise to check the details, particularly when signing anything important, as interactive Mercury turns retrograde on Saturday.

With a lunar eclipse early in the week, relationships could go through a period of instability. Feelings that have been held back may come out into the open, and this could encourage you or another to make a key decision. If you can wait a few days until things calm down, you’ll find it easier to make the best choice for you and others. And while you’ll do better if you can be firm with others, a compassionate aspect could see you being very flexible.

Something may need to change, and with a powerful lunar phase showing up today, it could be your routines, habits, and daily schedule that need to alter. With a strong focus on a more secluded and spiritual sector of your chart, the current setup could encourage you to step back and see things in perspective.

An event may have disrupted your routine, and now you need to make alternative arrangements. Whatever the situation, take your time before making a key decision.

Your approach to leisure activities and your social life could change this week, and the change may have been brewing for some time. You may be looking to move in new circles, make new friends, or involve yourself in activities that can harness your creative potential. To do this, you might need to move away from situations that no longer serve you. Don’t feel guilty. The cosmos is encouraging you to say goodbye to one chapter of your life and hello to another.

It may be decision time this week, and this could involve tension with family members concerning career plans or a key ambition.

This matter may have been bubbling away beneath the surface for some time, but now it could come out into the open. This can be a good time to clear the air, even if doing so involves some complex conversations. With interactive Mercury spinning backward from the end of the week, it would be just as well to approach this carefully and sensitively.

If a certain matter has brought up objections in the past, these could intensify over the coming week. You could be locked into an argument that causes a rift with another if you aren’t careful. But this event could also encourage you to take a closer look at your opinion. It’s an opportunity to put yourself in another person’s shoes and see things from their perspective. Doing so could make quite a difference to the outcome of future conversations.

At the start of the week, you may sense that something needs to change, and you may have felt this way for some time already.

Over the coming days, this urge could grow stronger and possibly encourage you to take action. Doing so could be a relief and a release, even if it’s a little bit uncomfortable to let go of a very familiar situation. However, if it no longer serves you, you are certainly doing the right thing.

If one relationship has been under pressure for some time, this is when things could come to a head. A lunar eclipse in your sector of relating means that feelings could erupt and lead you to make an impulsive decision. If you can refrain until your emotions are more settled and you can see the lie of the land, you may be able to make a more informed choice. Quicksilver Mercury turns retrograde at the end of the week, so you’ll need to tread carefully.

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Health and well-being may be very much on your mind, as a potent lunar phase could encourage a fresh start. A wellness issue or the sense that something needs to change regarding your overall health could act as a catalyst. Other people may have advice for you, but it would be better to seek the services of a personal trainer or health professional that you trust. You’ll want to feel as positive and energized as possible going forward.

Changes could be in the cards early this week, and they could affect the social groups or people you hang out with. Certain friends may leave your circle, but others will join over time. You could also benefit from some downtime and pampering if you need to recharge your batteries, so think good food, more rest, and a chance to unwind. As Mercury enters its retrograde phase, it might also be a good idea to back up important documents and files.

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

AUG 9 + AUG 23

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>>> E N T E R T A I N M E N T | REGGIE ALLEN

9 THINGS TO DO AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA THAT AREN’T FOOTBALL

D

espite attending the Capstone for two years, I can honestly say that I attended maybe a handful of Football games and that was only because someone gave me free tickets. Unlike many of my former classmates, sports never interested me. Instead, I put my energy into finding other sources of entertainment around campus.

I have compiled a list of things incoming and current students can enjoy, because UA is so much more than the tossing of the pigskin.

Guerilla Theatre Guerrilla Theatre is a ten-act cabaret show held once a month by the Alpha Psi Omega ( APO) theatre fraternity. The premise is simple: performers are given ten minutes to sing, dance, rap, or whatever if it doesn’t include full-frontal nudity or animal sacrifice. Guerilla is usually held in the miniscule Allen Bales theatres, so seating is limited and tends to sell out shortly after the doors open.

Tickets are an optional (but not really optional) $2 that goes toward the West Alabama Aids Outreach (WAAO).

Over the years, various APO members have gone on to make great strides in the entertainment industry including Nick Rashad Burroughs ( Kinky Boots, Something Rotten), Sonequa-Martin Green ( Walking Dead, Star Trek) and Michael Luwoye( Hamilton).

Watch a concert from the lawn The Tuscaloosa Amphitheatre can accommodate almost 8,000 people, but sometimes even that isn’t enough. Luckily there is a hill adjacent to the venue that is almost like the real thing. The acoustics aren’t that bad and it doesn’t cost you a dime. Just make sure you bring a comfortable mat and plenty of mosquito repellent.

Dinner at Depalma’s Located less than ten minutes from the Capstone, this small Italian bistro is a mecca for both students and locals. The food is great and incredibly affordable. Did I mention the food is great? The only downside is that seating is incredibly limited

22

AUG 9 + AUG 23

and they don’t take reservations.

Valentine’s Day is one of their most popular dates, so if you can snag a table, you will make that special someone very happy.

Attend a Drag Show at Icon With the growing success of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Icon has been the place for locals to get an up-and-close look of the unique performance art. As the sole LBGT-themed establishment in Tuscaloosa, the petit bar is the only place you can catch a show within a 40-mile radius. Whether straight or gay, no one cares. Everybody is just there to have a good time.

Midnight Sushsi Why it’s called Midnight Sushi, I will never know. Every Thursday through Saturday, Surin of Thailand reopens their doors at 10 p.m. for a night of discounted sushi and sake. For the most part, everything is a dollar, but bigger meal options are available.

Lines usually begin forming a little before doors open, so it is always advised to arrive early.

campus until the wee hours of the morning. If you board the bus after midnight, there is strong likelihood that you will encounter a horde of drunken students. If you have nothing better to do, just ride the bus and watch. It’s better than reality T.V. If you’re lucky, a drunk sorority girl will ask to take random selfies with you.

Attend an event at the Bama Theatre The historic theatre hosts a fair share of events throughout the year including pageants, plays, concerts and comedy shows. Two of the most popular events are the Bama Art House Independent Film Series and the annual live production of the Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Reggie Allen’s opinions do not reflect the opinions of the Planet Weekly.

Attend a Neophyte Presentation Commonly known as a probate, a neophyte presentation is a pivotal moment in black Greek letter organizations where new members are introduced to the public. Many attendees are usually fellow Greeks or family members, but probates are open to the public. The Alpha Kappa Alpha presentations always sell out, so it’s best to nab your tickets as soon as possible.

Attend A Gymnastic Meet It’s not a game, it’s a meet. It took me a while to get the terminology right, so I’m imparting that tidbit of knowledge to you so you won’t make the same mistake. Like many, my only familiarity with gymnastics was the movie Stick It. While it is not as big as the football games, Coleman Coliseum is the place to be on a Friday night. Like many of the nonfootball sports, the meets are free for students. If you arrive extra early, you can sit in the coveted student box, where the odds of winning an Amazon fire stick or iPad mini are increased dramatically.

People watch from the 348-Express From Thursday to Saturday, UA has a free bus service that runs throughout

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

JAYLEN MCCOLLOUGH // TANK HAS A GOOD EXPERIENCE IN TUSCALOOSA

N

ot only were several top 2018 prospects at the recent Alabama Champions Cookout, but the class of 2019 was also wellrepresented at the event. One of the elite 2019 prospects in attendance was Powder SpringsHillgrove, GA safety Jaylen 'Tank' McCollough.

"It was a good experience," says the 6-1, 190-pound McCollough, who also camped at UA earlier in the week. "It was great being around the coaches and the other recruits. It was good getting to know some of the other recruits. It was just good to get back to Tuscaloosa. I've been there so many times now that I've lost count."

"I had a really good conversation with Coach Saban. He mainly just talked about the next two years for me in high school and the importance of me staying on the right path and continuing to take care of everything in school and doing the right things."

"I really like how Coach Saban runs the program," McCollough says. "He holds the players accountable. I like the discipline they have in their program."

McCollough had an outstanding sophomore season in 2016. He finished with 105 tackles and three interceptions. He's projected by most as a safety in college.

"Coach (Derrick) Ansley likes that I could play everywhere in the secondary," McCollough says.

"He says that I can cover and tackle. He also likes my football IQ. Coach Ansley thinks that he could mold me into the next Minkah Fitzpatrick."

Redmen in the first game of the Crimson Tide's Canadian Tour. Freshman John Petty led Alabama with a game high 22 points, including connecting on 6-of-8 shots from beyond the arc en route to the 39-point win.

Alabama from that point on. A three-pointer by Sexton jump-started a 36-2 run that saw the Tide score 18 straight points. In all, Alabama's run spanned two quarters and lasted a total of 11:57. UA would go on to lead 51-28 at the half.

McCollough already ranks among the nation's most heavily pursued 2019 prospects. He has several big-time offers, including ones from Alabama, FSU, Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame and Michigan, among others.

Junior guard Ar'Mond Davis collected 14 points off the bench, while sophomore forward Daniel Giddens and freshman guard Collin Sexton both added 13. Including Giddens, the Tide's six newcomers combined for 57 of the team's 96 points on the night.

The second half was more of the same, despite Sexton spending most of the stanza on the bench with foul trouble.

It's still very early, but FSU and Georgia are expected to be among the Tide's main competition for McCollough.

"I don't think my decision is too far off -- maybe the end of the year or next summer," McCollough says.

"I'm getting close to be at the point where I want to start wrapping it up."

McCollough plans to make visits to games this fall to Alabama, FSU and Georgia. McCollough runs a 4.46 40. He is from the same high school that produced Kenyan Drake to Alabama.

ALABAMA MEN'S BASKETBALL Bama Cruises Past McGill, 96-57, in Canadian Tour Opener COURTESY: UA Media Relations The Alabama men's basketball team cruised to a 96-57 victory Monday night against the McGill

"Overall it was extremely positive," head coach Avery Johnson said of the result. "We had unbelievable energy throughout the game. Our guys moved the ball and we made some shots. I thought we played really good defense. We clamped down on them defensively, so I am pleased with the overall energy and passion that we played with.

"In the first half, I thought we did a great job with our pace. We set great screens and our guys had great spacing on offense, which allowed John to hit some shots. In the second half, we got really sloppy.

That gives me something to talk to the team about and show them some video. We have really good kids on our team who want to play the right way. We had some correctable mistakes tonight and we can learn from those."

The Tide got off to a slow start as McGill opened the game on an 11-2 run. However, it was all

Leading 66-42 with 4:45 left in the third quarter, the Tide went on a 16-2 run over the next 7:10 to increase its lead to 82-44 with 6:35 left in the game.

Braxton Key added eight points and a team-high five boards, as every Alabama player who saw action scored at least two points.

"We wanted to give everybody a chance to play," Johnson said. "We had a chance to spread out the minutes because we are playing three games in four nights. We want to try and impose our will against teams. We were a little sloppy and need to take better care of the basketball, then we will have chances to score even more points."

The Tide finished the game shooting 60 percent (34-of-57) from the field and 56 percent (14-of-25) from the beyond the arc, while holding the Redmen to just 33 percent (19-of-58) shooting from the floor and 23 percent (7-of-30) from deep. Alabama owned a 34-25 advantage on the boards, while its reserves outscored McGill's bench, 43-17.

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