Interview with Chris Young in the newest issue of Planet Weekly. Check it out! by The Planet Weekly

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SPECIAL A DAY GAME EDITION APRIL 19TH publisher@theplanetweekly.com

// IN THIS ISSUE >> UP-TO-DATE RESTAURANT LISTINGS ›› CHRIS YOUNG, "LOSING SLEEP" ›› NICOLE ATKINS ›› SUMMER PEACH CRISP ›› BEER & WINE REVIEW ›› TOMB RAIDER ›› LOCAL ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT >>> VISIT US ON THE WEB @ THEPLANETWEEKLY.COM

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ENTERTAINMENT 5 CHAMBER NEWS 6 BOOK REVIEW

PUBLISHER

L I N DA W. J OHN SON publisher@theplanetweekly.com

MANAGING EDITOR

W I L L I AM B A R SHOP

GRAPHIC DESIGNER EVE TEMONIA

EVENTS

C H A S E DY E R

ROAD TRIP

T R E Y B R OOK S

RESTAURANT GUIDE DOC FRANKENSTEIN

PRODUCTION EVE TEMONIA

IMAGES

Images: Creative Common License unless otherwise credited.

9 BEER/WINE REVIEWS

ADVERTISING 205.792.7 239

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 ELIZABETH MOSELEY BRETT REID VA N R O B E R T S JON ROGERS RACHEL STEINER ALEJANDRA TENORIO

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

22 STORIES

10 RESTAURANT GUIDE 14 PET PLANET 15 MOVIE REVIEWS

4 CHRIS YOUNG // ALLEN SCULLEY

“Chris Young is just now beginning his second decade in country music, and in that time he has been one of the steadiest climbers on the scene. Each of his five previous studio albums kicked out multiple top 5 singles and Young has gradually scaled the ladder as a touring artist, going from small venues to opening slots for some of country’s biggest stars, most recently Jason Aldean last summer.”

6 PEACH CRISP // RACHEL PAXTON

“Summertime and fresh peaches just seem go to together. I just bought 50 pounds of fresh peaches and spent the morning canning them. When I am preparing the peaches for canning, there always seem to be pieces that just aren't pretty enough for the canning jars.

7 NICOLE ATKINS // REGGIE ALLEN

“What began as an inside joke, metamorphized into a full-fledged album. Nicole Atkins first donned the name Rhonda while bowling with friends. It was a tradition to use pseudonyms during their outings. Whenever the singer-songwriter had a little too much to drink, they’d call her Rhonda. The name stuck.”

16 FEATURE 19 ROAD TRIP CONCERTS & EVENTS 20 PUZZLEMANIA / EDITORIAL CARTOON 21 HOROSCOPE

HIGH TIDE SPORTS 23

TIDE SPORTS GARY HARRIS

22 “STORIES IN MOTION” // COMMUNITY ARTS

“Alabama Dance Council Continues “Stories in Motion” Tour Celebrating Alabama’s Bicentennial”

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Photo Courtesy of John Shearer

CHRIS YOUNG // "LOSING SLEEP"

hris Young is just now beginning his second decade in country music, and in that time he has been one of the steadiest climbers on the scene. Each of his five previous studio albums kicked out multiple top 5 singles and Young has gradually scaled the ladder as a touring artist, going from small venues to opening slots for some of country’s biggest stars, most recently Jason Aldean last summer. Now comes 2018, and Young, with his new album, “Losing Sleep,” gaining momentum, is beginning the year with a headlining tour that takes him to arenas and amphitheaters. To say he’s excited about this latest step up with his career would be an understatement. “I’m really, really pumped about this tour and this record,” Young said in a recent phone interview. “You’re obviously excited any time you can make new music and make it out there and play shows. But to be able to take it to the level we’re taking it this year and play a bunch of arenas that I’ve opened for (other acts) a lot of times in my career and some amphitheaters mixed in there as well, it’s going to be really, really special.” Headlining arenas means Young will take out a good deal of visual production and will have control over every aspect of his show, as well as the responsibility to deliver the kind of entertaining and professional performance that’s expected of a major headliner. Young should be up to the challenge. He’s opened for a host of country headliners and been able to get advice and learn from watching them perform. He also has an extensive catalog of songs and enough hits to fill a good part of his set with hit singles. Combine those selections with new material and perhaps a few deeper cuts, and Young should be able to deliver a well-rounded set for fans. “I’m definitely not playing too many new songs,” Young said of his set list. “You don’t want to inundate people with a whole bunch of new music, but there’s going to be some cool stuff that people have never seen from me before. That’s part of what you want to do with every new tour is being able to do something that even people

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who have seen you in the past couple of years, that they see something they’ve never seen out of you. We’re definitely going to give them that.” One new song figures to be the title track from “Losing Sleep,” which after a slight pause climbed to No. 1 on “Billboard” magazine’s Country Airplay chart and No. 7 on the Hot Country Songs charts. The song adds another accomplishment to a career that has had its share of highlights. Young first came into the national spotlight when he won the 2006 season of “Nashville Star” on the USA Network. Signed by RCA His 2006 self-titled debut album stiffed, but “Getting' You Home (The Black Dress Song),” the second single from his sophomore album, 2009's “The Man I Want To Be,” became a charttopping breakthrough hit. Then the title song from that album and a third single, “Voices,” extended the streak of number one singles to three. The Murfreesboro, Tennessee native has been on a roll since. His next two albums, “Neon” (2010) and “A.M.” (2013) added three more number ones to Young's resume and “I’m Comin’ Over” took things to a new level with three more chart-toppers – the title track, “Think Of You” (a duet with Cassadee Pope), and “Sober Saturday Night.” Going into the “Losing Sleep” project, Young, as he did with “I’m Comin’ Over,” teamed up with songwriter Corey Crowder to co-produce the new album. Stepping into the production role allowed Young once again to be involved in the project from the songwriting stage right through to the final mixes and mastering and gave him a comfort level and sense of confidence in trying to live up the popular “I’m Comin’ Over” album. “Some people would be like ‘Hey, was there any pressure to replicate that?’ I would argue that it was the other way around,” Young said. “The pressure was off. We knew we could. It was really just getting in there and having fun, making an album that I love and it’s been cool seeing other people love it, too.” In “Losing Sleep,” Young made an album that’s in character with his earlier releases, with a nice blend of traditional country and pop influences

and a good balance between uptempo tunes (the song “Losing Sleep”), fullbodied mid-tempo songs (“Hangin’ On” and “Radio and the Rain”) and ballads (“Blacked Out” and “Where I Go When I Drink”). “There’s a lot of range on this album, there really is,” Young said. “‘Blacked Out’ is very stripped. ‘Where I Go When I Drink’ is very traditional leaning. ‘Losing Sleep’ is probably the most pop leaning track that I’ve ever done. Obviously with my vocal on everything, it’s going to be a country song, but it was fun for me to kind of play around a little bit with some of those production things.” Along with finishing and releasing “Losing Sleep,” another highlight of 2017 for Young was getting inducted into the Grand Ol’ Opry this past August. As an artist who is well versed on country music’s history, being an Opry member holds a special place for Young. “It’s a huge thing and definitely one of those things you look at and I’m like ‘Holy crap, this is a bucket list thing for me’ and not just one thing for the next four or five years for me to get done as an artist, but something that is a life-long goal for a lot of people, and definitely for me,” Young said. “So it’s an incredible thing. I’m so, so honored that it was Vince Gill that asked me to join and Brad Paisley who did the induction. I’m just incredibly lucky.” If the Opry performance was a high point of 2017 for Young, he also

shared in the worst moment of the year in country music when he went to Las Vegas, Nevada for the Route 91 Harvest Country Music Festival. That night, during Aldean’s headlining set, Stephen Paddock, opened on the crowd of 22,200 from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel, killing 58 people and wounding more than 500 – the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. “Obviously, it was a very scary night in my life, the scariest night of my life, not anything you should ever have to experience at a concert,” Young said. “That’s supposed to be a safe place. I was actually just down there to see Jason and Kane (Brown). I was not playing that night. I flew in just to hang out with those guys. And it was just a really, really scary thing.” The experience has made Young more attuned than ever with concert safety. “I had a show, I think, four days later in California,” Young said, looking back on the immediate aftermath of the shooting. “And I debated do we play? Do we not play? What’s the right thing to do? I’ve said it a lot in interviews since then, but music is a thing that, it’s a thing that can heal. So I got back up on stage and played and have continued to play. “It’s something that the security for the rest of the year and probably the rest of my life is going to be something where there’s a pretty heavy emphasis on going forward,” he said.

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NEWS YOUNG TUSCALOOSA ANNOUNCES SERIES OF EVENTS

ADOPT-A-SCHOOL NEWS

Young Tuscaloosa, a new group that allows young professionals opportunities for networking, professional development and community engagement, has announced a series of upcoming events. For more information on these or other Young Tuscaloosa events, email YoungTuscaloosa@gmail.com.

Special thanks to Tropical Smoothie Cafe, one of the Adopt-A-School partners of Maxwell Elementary, for educating the Maxwell Cooking Club on how to make smoothies during Club Day. Maxwell is so grateful that they took the time to come and supply all of the materials.

NETWORK: Alabama Baseball vs. Samford Tuesday, April 17, 2018 6:00 p.m. Third Base Patio, Sewell-Thomas Stadium Young Tuscaloosa has reserved the third base patio during the Alabama vs. Samford baseball game. This is a great opportunity for members to watch the game, eat, connect and network. Tickets are $15 and include your game ticket and entrance to the third base patio where food will be provided by Southern (i.e. hamburgers, hot dogs, sides and dessert). For questions, please contact Jake Mankin, Director of Outbound Ticket Sales, at 205-348-4376or jmankin@ia.ua.edu. SERVE: USA Triathlon April 26-28, 2018 Various Sites around Tuscaloosa The City of Tuscaloosa is hosting the USA Triathlon on April 26-28, 2018.This is a huge event for the city and brings in university and high school students from around the country as well as their families, friends and other event patrons. They are in desperate need of volunteers for this event. An event of this size and scope has to have the support and involvement of the surrounding community. ENGAGE: Coffee with Mayor Maddox Thursday, May 10, 2018 7:30 a.m. UPerk Despite his busy campaign schedule, we are honored to have the chance for Young Tuscaloosa members to meet with Mayor Maddox for coffee and a light breakfast provided by UPerk (at no cost to attendees) on May 10. Mayor Maddox will address the group about community issues important to us. To sign up for any of these events, visit http://www.tuscaloosachamber.com/ posts/2018/04/02/young-tuscaloosa-announces-series-of-events and click the links.

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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

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

SUMMER PEACH CRISP

ANCIENT RHETORICS AND DIGITAL NETWORKS

Summertime and fresh peaches just seem go to together. I just bought 50 pounds of fresh peaches and spent the morning canning them. When I am preparing the peaches for canning, there always seem to be pieces that just aren't pretty enough for the canning jars. Those imperfect peach pieces are perfect for making peach crisp! When I prepare this recipe I don't always even measure the ingredients. You can make a big pan or a little pan, however much you want to make. The amount of topping isn't crucial. If you like lots of topping, double the topping ingredients! Ingredients: 6 c. sliced peaches* 1 c. sugar 1/4 c. cornstarch Topping: 1 1/2 c. old-fashioned oats 1/2 c. brown sugar 1/4 c. flour 5 tbsp. butter *Note: If you don't have fresh peaches, you can substitute 2 (15 1/4 oz.) cans peaches. peach crisp Preheat oven to 350 degrees. To prepare the topping, cut butter into small cubes. Combine oats, brown sugar, flour, and butter in a small bowl and set aside. In a small saucepan, combine 1 c. water (or peach juice if you have any from the peaches), sugar, and cornstarch. Heat until thickened. Remove from the stove and stir into peaches. Place peaches in a 9-inch square baking pan. If you are doubling the recipe, use a 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Sprinkle the topping on top of the peaches. Bake about 30 minutes or until topping is lightly browned. Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. Serves 4-6.

EDITED BY MICHELE KENNERLY AND DAMIEN SMITH PFISTER ABOUT THE BOOK An examination of two seemingly incongruous areas of study: classical models of argumentation and modern modes of digital communication What can ancient rhetorical theory possibly tell us about the role of new digital media technologies in contemporary public culture? Some central issues we currently deal with—making sense of information abundance, persuading others in our social network, navigating new media ecologies, and shaping broader cultural currents—also pressed upon the ancients. Ancient Rhetorics and Digital Networks makes this connection explicit, reexamining key figures, texts, concepts, and sensibilities from ancient rhetoric in light of the glow of digital networks, or, ordered conversely, surveying the angles and tangles of digital networks from viewpoints afforded by ancient rhetoric. By providing an orientation grounded in ancient rhetorics, this collection simultaneously historicizes contemporary developments and reenergizes ancient rhetorical vocabularies. Contributors engage with a variety of digital phenomena including remix, big data, identity and anonymity, memes and virals, visual images, decorum, and networking. Taken together, the essays in Ancient Rhetorics and Digital Networks help us to understand and navigate some of the fundamental communicative issues we deal with today.

She is the author of Editorial Bodies: Perfection and Rejection in Ancient Rhetoric and Poetics. Damien Smith Pfister is an associate professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Maryland. He is the author of Networked Media, Networked Rhetorics: Attention and Deliberation in the Early Blogosphere. REVIEWS “Ancient Rhetorics and Digital Networks is a strong edited collection that makes a unique contribution to two different areas within the field of rhetoric that are merging quickly into a tight intersection.” —Jenny Rice, author of Distant Publics: Development Rhetoric and the Subject of Crisis

AUTHORS/EDITORS MicheleKennerly is an assistant professor and the director of effective speech at Penn State University.

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.

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

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Photos Courtesy of Joey Martinez

GOOD NIGHT RHONDA LEE, HELLO NICOLE ATKINS

hat began as an inside joke, metamorphized into a full-fledged album.

Nicole Atkins first donned the name Rhonda while bowling with friends. It was a tradition to use pseudonyms during their outings. Whenever the singer-songwriter had a little too much to drink, they’d call her Rhonda. The name stuck. Years later, while recording what would be her fourth studio album, Atkins knew she had to incorporate the alter ego into the mix. The question was how. After hours of songwriting with fellow musician Chris Isaak, nothing clicked. “The day before I went to record the album, I just said ‘Say Good Night Rhonda Lee,’” Atkins explained in a phone interview. “And it really fit. I wrote the words in like 20 minutes and I went and recorded the record the next day. That was it. It’s weird that a lot of the biggest ideas come at the last minute. It’s funny because people come to the show and share their drunk names with me.”

For the New Jersey native, “Good Night Rhonda Lee” marked not only the departure from her signature indie-rock sound, but her addiction with alcohol. After years of drinking, Atkins decided to go on the straight and narrow by checking herself into rehab. However, during this time of healing, misfortune did not stay its hand. Sometime after she began her journey, her father was diagnosed with Lung cancer. And yet, the fire within Ms. Atkins continued to burn brighter than ever. With three studio albums and four EPs to her name, the singer-songwriter called this project “the most focused.” “I was drinking for a long time and I’m proud of the records before that,” Atkins said. “It could’ve been a great record but I think everyone comes to time in your life where they get a little bit older and they make changes. I just didn’t want to spend the rest of my life drinking.” The hands of fate began to play in her favor. Not only did it leave room for recovery, it allowed a

space for change. There Atkins crossed paths with an unnamed hip-hop producer that bluntly stated that her true calling was singing soul. The artist formally known as Rhonda Lee, was bewildered by the accusation. Pushing Atkins to embrace her voice, the mystery man really put things into perspective. “I’ve always had a big voice and approached singing from an emotional place,” Atkins said.” This guy was like ‘You’re a soul singer. I think you should stop fighting that and just be it.’ Kept trying to mold myself into this modern indie rock world and not do what comes naturally.” That isn’t to say that Atkins wasn’t singing from the heart. She just needed a push in the right direction. Recorded at Florence’s Single Lock Records, the album features a bevy of autobiographical songs, including “A Dream About

Pain”, “Sleepwalking” and the title track, which pays homage to her battle with alcohol. However, this new discovery was not without its oppositions. The vocal transition was a challenge as soul was her calling, but her niche was indierock. Her discography speaks for itself. Atkin’s hit her mark with 2007’s “Neptune City”, which earned her the prestigious Sammy Cahn for its title track. The success continued with follow-up albums “Mondo Amore’ and “Slow Phaser.” Diving into a new genre required time for experimentation. “I think that’s what took a long time for the writing of the record,” Atkins said. “I wanted to write a soul record, but I didn’t want it to sound like a soul paint by numbers, insert catchphrase here. I wanted to make it, you know, uniquely mine. I took a while to craft that.” Atkins kicks off her national tour at Birmingham’s Saturn Bar with an April 18 performance. The Magic City isn’t just dear to her heart, it’s also the closet city to Nashvillle where she resides with her husband. A regular at the Nick, the singer-songwriter joked that it was time for a change and she’s heard great things about the Avondale venue. “They can expect an emotional experience,” Atkins said. “There’s lot of dancing, lots of crying. Music to cry to while you dance.”

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Photos Courtesy of Sheena Gregg

PYRO’S PIZZA // QUICK AND DELICIOUS

sk me what my favorite food is and I will quickly tell you pizza. Whether it’s the fact that there’s bread, cheese, or a host of options for toppings, it’s hard to say why it’s my favorite. As a college town we love our pizza for sure. Growing up, I remember seeing various pizza places that would have signage for customers that would say something along the lines of “our delicious product takes time, please be patient as we custom make your order.” Looking back at those pizza places, the crusts were often thick and the topping placement would often be similar to a deep-dish pizza. What I’ve learned more recently though is that deliciousness doesn’t always have to take copious amounts of time…instead, all it takes is high quality ingredients and a fancy oven with fire! To be honest, Mondays are my least favorite day. It’s not that anything terrible happens, but of course it’s a process of getting mentally and emotionally prepared to take on the full work week. I had an extra early breakfast on this particular Monday

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which led me feeling pretty hungry come lunch time. I wanted a balance of hearty but nothing overly greasy. Pizza from Pyro’s sounded like the best option that day. Pulling up to the parking lot, I was already surprised by the number of patrons in the restaurant during the early 11 a.m. hour. My husband and I are frequent flyers to Pyro’s so it didn’t take too much perusing of the menu for me to decide what I wanted. Taking one last glance at the specialty pizza combinations, I decided to go with a snack-sized version of the Raging Hawaiian pizza, a slightly smaller pizza compared to the entrée size. The Raging Hawaiian featured spicy marinara sauce, Canadian bacon, regular bacon, mozzarella, pineapple, and fresh jalapenos, with my own personal request to add sun-dried tomatoes. While in line for my pizza, a few colleagues from work and church were in front of me and kindly offered to treat me to lunch due to noticing me eating solo. What a Monday treat! It felt like 60 seconds before our pizzas

and salad were brought to the table. Aside from my Raging Hawaiian, our table posted a deliciously classic pepperoni pizza, a mushroom and sausage pizza, and a massive barbecue entrée salad. Giving everyone’s plates the “once over” I noticed a color to everyone’s crust and a generous amount of toppings. Taking my first bite of pizza (where are my fork and knife pizza eaters?!) I was pleased at the tried and true flavors and textures I expected to have from this pizza. I used to think a thinner crust was for the birds, but now I see it as a vehicle for serving up deliciousness while being able to be cooked quite efficiently for the hungry and on-the-go consumer. Though I left lunch coveting my lunch mate’s salad and wishing we had gone halfsies with pizza and salad, I was extremely happy with my Monday lunch choice. If you haven’t been already, you should definitely consider Pyro’s in your rotation for lunch or dinner given the great price point, food selection, and alcohol

and dessert selection. It goes without saying that I will definitely be back again! Pyro’s Fire Fresh Pizza is located at the Shoppes at Legacy Park and opens daily at 11 a.m. 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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PROPHECY RED BLEND JUDGE'S REVIEW: 88 RATING - ORANGE DOOR SKETCHBOOK BREWING CO. AMERICAN IPA | YEAR-ROUND ILLINOIS | UNITED STATES Judges Rating: 88 Aroma: 19 / 24 Appearance: 6/6 Flavor: 37 / 40 Mouthfeel: 10 / 10 Overall Impression: 16 / 20

range Door is an American IPA, judged as BJCP Category 21A. This beer has moderate hop aroma that is fruity and sweet. There are classic citrus notes, specifically grapefruit. It pours an orange-yellow color with a low, wispy white head. This beer's flavor is expectedly hoppy, with more intensity and complex character than that found in the aroma. The hops are fruity and resinous with an assertive bitterness throughout. Any malt flavor is clean and neutral. It has a mediumfull body with a fluffy, filling feel and is well carbonated. This beer finishes nicely and slightly prickly from a combination of ethanol and carbonic acid. Overall, this is an enjoyable IPA, but its aroma is relatively muted compared to other typical examples.

rophecy Red Blend comes from Prophecy Wines in Healdsburg, California, USA.

The grapes that make up the blend come from California and Washington, according to the bottle. They didn’t say which particular varietals make up the blend. One thing you can’t help but notice, is the beautiful label on this bottle. It was created by Victo Ngai, a lady with incredible artwork skills! According to her Instagram profile, she’s an LA based illustrator from Hong Kong. Well done!

Red Blend alcohol content 13.8% by volume, per the bottle. Taste The wine’s primary flavor is juicy dark cherry. It’s definitely not overly bold, but it is a nice fruit-forward sipper. I found it enjoyable, but did note that it’s not very complex. Mouthfeel and Tannins

Prophecy Red Blend Wine Review

Prophecy Red Blend delivers a juicy mouthfeel. The tannins are not overwhelming, though definitely present and felt mostly on the tip of the tongue.

Prophecy Red Blend From the bottle:

Finish

…our inspiration comes from the beauty of the harvest and the possibility of greatness in a glass. I tasted the 2015 vintage of Prophecy Red Blend.

I found the finish to be long, with a nice run-off of the flavor, giving way to the tannins. Little to no bitterness as well, which was good.

Appearance

Overall Opinion

In the glass, this wine is dark purple in color. While I’ve seen darker blends, this one is still pretty dark. Just a little light does manage to come through, however. A tip and spin really coats up the glass.

My favorite part of this wine was its aroma. Very enjoyable and fairly complex.

It’s a leggy red blend, and its legs fall very slowly down the sides of the glass. Aroma This wine is very aromatic. I noticed it as soon as I pulled out the cork and also as I was tipping and spinning to coat up the glass. With the glass a good foot away, you can still smell this wine’s aroma. On the nose, you get notes of vanilla, a nutmeg-like spice and some cherry. It leaves very little alcohol burn in the nose, that’s well masked by its bold aroma. Very enjoyable! Prophecy

I did enjoy the flavor, but have to acknowledge that if you’re looking for palate complexity, this wine probably won’t give you much. Overall, it’s a great simple sipper that will likely please everyone at the table. Prophecy Red Blend price $10.99. Suggested Pairing As I was drinking this wine, I kept thinking of a local restaurant that does a great rare prime-rib. So, that’s my suggestion… Pair Prophecy Red Blend with a nice prime-rib. The tannins will work well with the beef and the juicy flavor should shine through. Cheers!

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>>> RESTAURANTS |

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

BREAKFAST / LUNCH Brown Bag 9425 Jones Road | Northport // 333.0970 Its speciality, fried green tomatoes, joins barbecue plates and fish filets on an extended list of meats and vegetables.//Tues 10:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | WedSat 10:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.

752.5895

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.

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

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

Jalapeno’s Mexican Grill 2001 New Watermelon Rd | Northport // 342.3378 LaGran Fiesta 9770 Hwy 69 S // 345.8871

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

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

Los Tarascos (2 locations) 110 Skyland Blvd E - Tuscaloosa//553-8896 New LOCATION 3380 McFarland Blvd - Northport//330-0919//www.lostarascos.com

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

Margarita's Grill 1241 McFarland Blvd E // 343.0300

Holler & Dash 1130 University Blvd A-1, Tuscaloosa//752-3310 Sun-Thur 7am–2pm Fri-Sat 7am–9pm Sun 7am2pm//www.holleranddash.com International House of Pancakes 724 Skyland Blvd // 366.1130 Jack's 1200 Hackberry Lane | Tuscaloosa // 345.1199

Moe’s Southwest Grill (2 locations) 2330 McFarland Blvd E // 342.1487 1130 University Blvd // 752.0234 | moes.com Pastor's Kitchen 2910 5th St, Northport//553-2320 Mon-Fri 10:30am-2pm, 4:30–9pm Sat 10:30am8pm Closed Sun Pepito’s (2 locations) 1203 University Blvd | The Strip // 391.9028 1301 McFarland Blvd NE // 391.4861

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 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 Central Mesa 523-7738// 519 Greensboro Ave, Tuscaloosa Mon-Thur 11am-10pm Friday-Sat 11am-11pm Sunday: 10am-3pm

Taco Mama Tuscaloosa 2104 University Blvd A, Tuscaloosa Mon-Wed 11am–9pm Thur-Sat 11am–10pm Sun 11am–9pm www.tacomamaonline.com FINE DINING 301 Bistro (Was L&N Train Station) 301 Greensboro Ave, Tuscaloosa //764-1395 Casual Dining, Full Bar and Beer Garden Mon-Sat 4–11PM Sun 11am-9pm | www.301bistro. com 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

Chipotle Mexican Grill 1800 McFarland Blvd E | Midtown Village // 391.0140 www.chipotle.com Chuy's 1320 McFarland Blvd E, Tuscaloosa// 349-4947 Sun-Thur 11am-10pm Fri-Sat 11am-11pm | www. chuys.com Don Tono's 2312 4th Street | Temerson Square // 345.9191 La Cocina Bar & Grill 561-6851 Mon-Thur 11am-9:30 Fri 11am-10pm Sat 9am-10pm Sun 9am-9pm lacocinatuscaloosa.com El Rincon (2 locations) 1225 University Blvd | Tuscaloosa // 366.0855 1726 McFarland Blvd | Northport // 330.1274

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

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

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.

Iguana Grill 1800 McFarland Blvd E | Midtown Village //

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

APR 4 + APR 18

Maki Fresh 759-2555//1530 Mcfarland Blvd N, Tuscaloosa// Mon-Sun 11am–9pm Asian chain serving maki, rice bowls, tempura, sliders & more. Tokyo Japanese Steak & Sushi Bar 6521 Hwy 69 S | Hillcrest Center // 366.1177// Offers steak, seafood, tempura, teriyaki and sushi. Including cooking at your table, if you choose. Sun–Thurs 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. Fri & Sat 5 p.m. - 11 p.m. Kobe Steak House 1800 McFarland Blvd E | Midtown Village // 7591400//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 Rock 'n Roll Sushi 469-9060//2229 University Blvd, Tuscaloosa Mon-Thur 11am-9pm Fri-Sat 11am-10pm Sun 12-9pm 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 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 Animal Butter 710-5455// 2217 University Blvd, Tuscaloosa// TueSat 11am–10pm Sun 11am–9pm Monday Closed | www.animalbutterinc.com

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 Madear’s 1735 Culver Road // 343.7773 Mon–Fri 6 a.m. - 5 p.m. | 2nd & 3rd Sunday 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Mae's Southern Cafe 710-5488//4419 hwy 43 n suite 5, Northport Tue-Sat 11am–7pm Sun-10:30pm–12am Sun 11am6pm Mon-12AM–8PM Metro Diner 464-9428//1800 McFarland Blvd E #404 Tuscaloosa Sun-Thur 7am–8pm Fri-Sat 7am–9pm www.metrodiner.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 Mr Bill's Family Dining 333-9312 2715 McFarland Blvd, Northport Mon-Fri 10am-8pm Closed Sat-Sun Nothing But Noodles 1320 McFarland Blvd E #530// 349-2900// www.nothingbutnoodles.com Pastas, Salads, Soups, Desserts Fri-Sat 10:30am–10:30pm SunThur 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

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.

PHO TOWN 248-7663 Vietnamese Noodle Soup & Grill 1800 McFarland Blvd E #420, Tuscaloosa Mon-Sat 11am-9pm Sun-11am-8pm

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

Quick Grill 1208 University Blvd | The Strip // 342.0022 www.bamaquickgrill.com

The Blue Plate Restaurant (Was Northport Diner) 450 McFarland Blvd, Northport // 462-3626

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

Buddy’s Ribs & Steaks 2701 Bridge Ave | Northport // 339.4885 Buffalo Wild Wings 2710 McFarland Blvd // 523.0273 Mon–Wed 11 a.m. - midnight | Thurs–Sat 11 a.m. - 2 a.m. Chicken Salad Chick The Shoppes at Midtown & Essex Square, Northport www.chickensaladchick.com Dat's Good 333-4663// 4300 AL-13, Northport Specializes in Catfish, Hot Wings,and BBQ Tue-Sat 10am-9pm Closed Sun & Mon www.facebook.com/DatsGoodBBQ 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.

Sitar Indian Cuisine 500 15th St // 345-1419 Southern Ale House 1530 McFarland Blvd N//Monday-Thursday 11a.m9p.m., Friday-Saturday 11a.m.-10p.m. Sunday Brunch 11a.m.-2p.m. 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// 5616999//We use the freshest ingredients available with an emphasis on supporting the local farmer Mon-Sun 10am–9pm//www.urbancookhouse.com Whataburger - 349-4506 820 Skyland Blvd, Tuscaloosa Open 24 hours - Inside & Drive-thru www.whataburger.com Zoe’s Kitchen 312 Merchants Walk // 344.4450 A wonderful selection of Greek foods

Hooligan’s

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>>> RESTAURANTS |

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

SPORTS GRILL Baumhower's Wings of Tuscaloosa (2 Locations) 500 Harper Lee Drive | catering-Pick-up Tuscaloosa //556.5858 4251 Courtney Dr, Tuscaloosa // 556-5658 Always fresh and always fun. Owned by former UA/ Miami Dolphins great Bob Baumhower. Kid Friendly Buffalo Phil’s 1149 University Blvd | The Strip // 758.3318 Sports grille with TVs galore. Diverse beer and wine selection, full bar 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 Mon through Wed from 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Thurs through Sat from 11 a.m.-10 p.m., and Sun 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.

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

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

Innisfree Irish Pub 1925 University Blvd | Tuscaloosa // 345.1199 Mugshots Grill & Bar 511 Greensboro Ave // 391.0572//Great burgers. Full service bar. Open late. | www.mugshotsgrillandbar.com

Texas Roadhouse 1363 McFarland Blvd E, Tuscaloosa// 759-2596 // Fri-Sat 11am–11pm Sun-11am-10pm Mon-Thur 3pm-10pm www.texasroadhouse.com

Walton's 915 Patriot Pkwy, Tuscaloosa//752-1693 Wings and much more Mon-Sat 9am-10pm Closed Sun | waltonstuscaloosa.com

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

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 Dickey's BBQ (3 locations) 9770 Alabama 69; Midtown; and 13544 Hwy 43 North at Rose Blvd. in Northport. Texas Barbecue. | 344.6500 1800 McFarland Blvd, Midtown Village, Tuscaloosa. | 758-1133 | 13544 Hwy 43 North, Winn Dixie Shopping Center, Northport. | 330-1147 Dreamland (2 locations) 5535 15th Ave | Tuscaloosa // 758.8135 101 Bridge Ave | Northport // 343.6677 The legend. On game day, get there early if you want to make kickoff. Seating is limited. Hours: Mon–Sat 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Sun 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Full Moon BBQ 1434 McFarland Blvd E, Tuscaloosa// 366-3555 (sports Grill) Mon-Thur 10am–9pm Fri-Sat 10am–10pm Sun 11am-9pm Hick’s BBQ 4400 Fayette Hwy // 339.3678 // Tues–Sat 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q 469-2060//305 21st Ave, Tuscaloosa Sun-Thur 11am-9pm Fri-Sat 9am-10pm | www. facebook.com/JNNTuscaloosa Hoo's Q 345-6400 101 15th St E, Tuscaloosa//Mon-Sun 10am-9pm | www.hoosbbq.com

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

SEAFOOD 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. 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) Shrimp Basket 3249 McFarland Blvd E, Tuscaloosa//469-9786 Mon-Fri 10:30am–9pm | www.shrimpbasket.com Catfish Heaven 2502 21st St, Tuscaloosa// 752-7222 Mon-Sat 11am-7:30pm Closed Sun 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

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

New China Fun 4213 University Blvd E, Tuscaloosa//553-2435 Mon-Thur 11am–9:30pm Fri-Sat 11am–10:30pm Sun 12–9:30PM

Newk’s Express Cafe 205 University Blvd. East // 758.2455// www.newkscafe.com Sun–Wed 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. | Thurs–Sat 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.

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

Schlotsky’s Deli 405 15th St. E // 759.1975 // schlotskys.com

Pearl Garden 2719 Lurleen Wallace Blvd | Northport // 339.0880

Longhorn Steakhouse 1800 McFarland Blvd E Midtown Village // 345-8244 #412

R. Davidson Chophouse 2330 4th St. /Downtown Tuscaloosa/ 205.614.8782 Reservations are available online at rdchophouse. com or by phone. Hours - Tues–Fri. Lunch – 11:00am – 2:00pm; Cocktail 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

Hooter’s 5025 Oscar Baxter Dr | Next to Jameson Inn // 758.3035 www.hooters.com

Lee Palace 6521 Highway 69 S // 391.9990 / Open daily 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Peking Chinese Restaurant 1816 McFarland | Northport // 333.0361 Open 7 days a week. Super lunch and dinner buffet. Hours: Sun–Thurs 11 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. | Fri & Sat 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. 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. 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-9am10pm Firehouse Subs 1130 University Blvd | Tuscaloosa // 248.0680 Hungry Howie’s (4 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 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 Subs n' You 2427 University Blvd. | Tuscaloosa // 205.758.0088 Roly Poly Sandwiches 2300 4th Street | Tuscaloosa // 366.1222

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 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 Open daily. Lunch: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Dinner: 5 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. | www.surinofthailand.com COFFEE SHOPS OHenry's Coffee 650-4044 //2531 University Blvd #100 Mon-Thur 6am-9pm Fri 6-10pm Sat 7-10pm Sun 7-9pm Uperk 553-8505 // 405 20th Ave, Tuscaloosa Mon-Fri 6:30am-9pm Sat 8am-2pm Sun 2-9pmBarnes & 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. – 6 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m. – 4 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 Dunkin' Donuts 2520 Stillman Blvd. |Tuscaloosa// 349.3400 McCorvey Dr. | Tuscaloosa // 348.4041 | www. dunkindonuts.com Frutta Bowls 752-3293//2531 University Blvd Suite 110 Mon-Sun 7am–9pm | www.fruttabowls.com

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

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.

Pyros Fire Fresh Pizza 1320 McFarland Blvd E #270, Tuscaloosa//248-7343 Mon-Fri 10:30am-10pm | www.pyrospizza.com

Smoothie King (2 locations) 415 15th Street | Tuscaloosa // 349.1721 1403 University Blvd | Tuscaloosa // 462.3664

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

TCBY (2 Locations) 2304 Mcfarland Blbd | Meadowbrook Shopping Center // 349.4661 2 Mcfarland Blvd | Northport | Essex Shopping Center // 758.6855

Jason’s Deli 2300 McFarland Blvd // 752.6192 www.jasonsdeli.com Located in the Meadowbrook Shopping Center Jimmy John’s (3 locations) 1400 University Blvd | The Strip // 366.3699 1875 McFarland Blvd N | Northport // 752.7714 815 Lurleen B. Wallace S | Tuscaloosa // 722.2268 Delivery 7 days a week. www.jimmyjohns.com Manna Grocery & Deli 2300 McFarland Blvd E | Tuscaloosa // 752.9955

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 Mountain 1800 McFarland Blvd E | Midtown Village // 342.1484 | Mon–Thurs 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. | Fri & Sat 11 a.m. - midnight

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APR 4 + APR 18

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APR 4 + APR 18

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

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APR 4 + APR 18

>>> PET PLANET

KASEY // CUTE KASEY

GINGER // CLASSY SEAL POINT

his beauty is Ginger, a 3-year-old (as of 2/13/18) spayed female Seal Point (possibly Himalayan mix) cat. She has beautiful long hair and blue eyes. She came to our shelter when her owner passed away and the family couldn't keep her.

ow cute is Kasey? Kasey is a 4-year-old male Dachshund mix. He has a smooth black-andtan coat and the long, short body of a Dachshund. He is small, weighing 18 pounds. Kasey loves his people and will crawl up in your lap in a heartbeat. He is pretty calm but does have some energy and will be a talker if he is not getting much attention. He can show a bit of attitude around other dogs at first until he is comfortable with them. He will do better in a home without young children, so any children in the household need to be 12 and older. Kasey should be fine in an apartment with daily walks. He must be an inside dog but will require a fenced-in yard if left outside. We have started on his crate training. Kasey is up-to-date on his vet care, is neutered, is heartworm negative, and is microchipped. He is on heartworm and flea/tick preventions. Give this pup a belly rub and he will be your friend for life! Please call 205-554-0011 or visit humanesocietyofwa.org to request an appointment to meet our available animals.

Ginger is such a beautiful cat! She is adjusting to shelter life and needs someone to show her some patience and lots of love. She is friendly and loves to be petted and brushed. Since Ginger is visually impaired, she will do best in a home that is calm and fairly quiet. She would most likely be frightened by young, active children or other active pets. She is negative for FIV and FeLK and current on vaccinations. She is spayed and current on her vet care. Visit Ginger and the other cats and kittens at the HSWA Cat Adoption Center on Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Otherwise, please call 205-554-0011 or visit humanesocietyofwa.org to request an appointment to meet our available animals. The Humane Society of West Alabama is in need of volunteers for both the cat and dog facilities. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer please contact our volunteer coordinator at volunteerhswa@gmail.com or go ahead and download a volunteer application from www.humanesocietyofwa.org/formsinfo.html and send to the same email.

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TOMB RAIDER // LARA CROFT

★★

OU T OF 4

he long-awaited reboot of “Tomb Raider” runs out of momentum about an hour into its melodramatic, 111-minute running time. Basically, this lowtech, pedestrian, prequel to the 2001 original Angelina Jolie blockbuster adheres to the same standardissue formula that has changed little since movie serials like “Jungle Girl” (1941) and “Perils of Nyoka” (1942). Unlike the usual arbitrary remake, however, “Tomb Raider” does have some justification for its existence. The “Tomb Raider” videogame has changed over the years, and the Lara Croft character has embodied some of those changes. No longer the bubble-breasted, tank-top clad babe of the Jolie years, the new younger Lara is far more sinewy than sexy. Oscar-winning Swedish actress Alicia Vikander has appropriated the role, and she is the only thing good about this generic franchise update. Everything else pales by comparison. Historically, Jolie’s “Tomb Raider” ushered in a new era in Hollywood’s depiction of action heroines after the supercharged, 1990 French action thriller “Le Femme Nikita” had made gals look sexy with guns in hand. Unfortunately, the “Tomb Raider” sequel “Lara Croft: The Cradle of Time” (2003) didn’t live up to the potential of its predecessor, and the franchise faded into obscurity. Meantime, the “Resident Evil” videogame franchise followed in Lara’s footsteps, and fared far more successful. Eventually, not only did Milla Jovovich starred in the original “Resident Evil,” but she also toplined in the five sequels that ensued from 2002 to 2016. Lara faces implausible perils galore, but she always finds an easy-out in the most cliffhanger situations. Unfortunately, the far-fetched, derring-do that Alicia Vikander performs for Norwegian director Roar Uthaug with primitive weapons, either a bow & arrow or rocks strewn nearby represent a strictly back-to-basics austerity. Indeed, our heroine doesn’t acquire her signature pair of pistols until she returns to London to inaugurate her reign as the new Lady Croft. Lord Richard Croft (Dominic West of “Punisher: War Zone”) has been missing for seven years. The eminent archaeologist’s daughter, Lara Croft (Alicia Vikander of “Ex Machina”), hopes her dad will return.

She remains convinced that Lord Croft still lives. Lara’s legal guardian Anna Miller (Kristin Scott Thomas of “The English Patient”), who manages Lord Croft’s billion-dollar empire, has urged her repeatedly to write Richard off for dead. Not only would this bring closure to an impossible predicament, but Lara could also stop living like a pauper with millions within reach of her fingertips! She earns her living as a bicycle courier in East London. Initially, this fiercely independent attitude makes Lara seem both courageous but sympathetic. She refuses to take the easy way out, and she prefers to forge her own fortune rather than live off her father’s affluence. This nonconformist streak doesn’t prevent her from coming up second in every fracas. In a desperate bid to pay off her gym bill, she participates as the fox in a citywide bicycle chase with scores of guys in swift pursuit, behaving as the hounds after her fox. They’ve attached a paint can to her bike and punctured it. If nobody can overtake her before that paint runs out, which marks her trail, Lara will walk off a wad of loot. Instead, she collides with a police cruiser and winds up in jail. Anna has to bail reluctant heiress out. The first hour offers greater spontaneity than the somnambulant second hour. Lara legally declares Richard Croft dead. At this point, she receives a puzzle box that sends her back to the Croft Manor family crypt. Activating a hidden button in the crypt inscription, she descends into her father’s secret workshop. She discovers a camcorder with a videotape of him. Eccentric Lord Richard implores his daughter to destroy all his research on a fabulous

Asian sorceress, the Queen of Yamatai, known more notoriously as Himiko. Folklore maintains that the evil Himiko possesses is the power over life and death. Rather than obey her father, Lara takes the research with her on a global expedition to reconnect with her father. Little does she realize the magnitude of her error. In Hong Kong, she locates the son of the captain who took Lord Croft to a remote Japanese island. The reluctant son, Lu Ren (Daniel Wu of “Geostorm”), accommodates Lara with a cruise into the tumultuous Devil’s Sea. A catastrophic storm shipwrecks them on a craggy desert island encircled by a treacherous reef. Eventually, our plucky heroine confronts the primary villain, Mathias Vogel (Walton Goggins of “Cowboys & Aliens”), who operates a slave labor camp. Vogel has been searching for the ancient tomb of Himiko, a Japanese goddess

of death. A wealthy clandestine organization codenamed Trinity employs Vogel. Once he locates Himiko's tomb, Trinity wants him to convert its curse into a weapon. Unlike the Jolie epics, Lara reunites with her father who has been alive but marooned on the island like Robinson Crusoe. All along Vogel thought Richard was dead. Recapturing Richard, Vogel coerces Lara at gunpoint to solve all the puzzles and take them to Himiko’s sarcophagus. This obstacle course that they embark upon to Himiko is rigged with booby-traps galore. Sadly, Indiana Jones would yawn at the hurdles these people navigate. “Tomb Raider” struggles to look realistic. Lara is no match for Vogel’s gun-toting goons who are armed with assault rifles. She relies on her wits and their weaknesses to survive this ordeal. Presumably, scenarists Geneva RobertsonDworet and Alastair Siddons borrowed heavily from Steven Spielberg’s “Indiana Jones of the Last Crusade” for inspiration. The single set-piece that dazzles is the careening London bike chase. The final showdown between Lara and her unsavory adversaries after they discover the secret of Himiko’s curse amounts to nothing spectacular. Walton Goggins specializes in objectionable villains, but he never runs amok. Dominic West is believable as Lara’s ill-fated father. Enigmatic Kristin Scott Thomas lingers on the sidelines with a sinister smile. Ironically, despite the terrific makeover given Lara, “Tomb Raider” fails to breathe new life into this routine search for forbidden treasures.

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>>> F E AT U R E | E L I Z A B E T H M O S E L E Y

EYES ON THE IMPORTANCE OF ACCURATE JOURNALISM

yes on Mississippi, a documentary by Ellen Ann Fentress, sheds a light on the work of Bill Minor, a journalist that covered Mississippi for the TimesPicayune during the civil rights movement. The film, being shown on college campuses around the country, highlights the importance of Minor’s accurate reporting in a turbulent time. Testimonials in the film said that Minor “took risks,” “brought foresight” and was “more involved in Mississippi than any other reporter.” Civil rights leader Myrlie Evers said Minor “gave us hope for the future.” The film, underlined with footage from the era and the iconic “Dixie” song, shows the influence Minor had on journalism of the time. Minor’s interview footage gives the film a psychic intimacy, Fentress said, that lends itself well to the telling of his success story. “Mississippi was a national story,” Minor said in the film. He covered events like the first black student enrolled at Ole Miss, the assassination of activist Medger Evers and marches and riots all over the state. Minor was focused on uncovering a lot of the discord in Mississippi. His work was featured in the New York Times and Newsweek during a time in which many local newspapers were owned by prominent white families and biased against the change that was taking place. However, Minor never got any bylines in those big publications simply because they did not usually print bylines then. Minor said this was probably a good thing at the time because his current employer was none the wiser to Minor’s national anonymous success.

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In the film, Myrlie Evers, widow of Medger Evers, said Minor helped part the “cotton curtain” that concealed the suffering of Mississippi blacks from the public. “The white power structure ran roughshod over the blacks,” Minor said. Minor was present for marches where he saw Jackson police officers rip American flags from the hands of young black boys; he saw the lights of the courtroom dim as Willie McGee was executed by electric chair. Minor’s interviews show his unique perspective; he noticed the sounds and smells of the events he covered and littered his imagery throughout his articles, adding emotional appeal as he wrote of the injustice in Mississippi. Minor said he thought to himself, “Someone has got to get these stories out.” Minor worked as a journalist until just weeks before his death last year. He was 94 years old and was likely the oldest working journalist in the country. Fentress said the film still resonates today because of current issues not only in honest journalism but in race relations. “It’s just so not over,” she said. According to her website, Fentress has traveled to Vanderbilt University, Tulane University, Missouri School of Journalism, and the University of Alabama for documentary screenings. She hopes to acquire further rights to share her film beyond college campuses. Furthermore, she intends to continue adding to her film and eventually looks to put Minor’s story in a book.

This photo courtesy of ellenannfentress.com

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>>> E V E N T S

"STORIES IN MOTION" Alabama Dance Council Continues “Stories in Motion” Tour Celebrating Alabama’s Bicentennial

Zamora Shrine Center, 3521 Ratliff Rd, Birmingham, AL

Birmingham, AL – The Alabama Dance Council (ADC) is participating in Alabama’s Bicentennial by honoring and celebrating the different cultural perspectives that are a part of our history and that make up our current population today. Our different cultural perspectives will be explored through dance to delve into personal history and identity, connected by the themes of place, home and community. Six guest choreographers and various Alabama artists are collaborating on this project.

April 8 Alabama Waldorf School, 2:00-4:00 pm 5901 Crestwood Blvd, Birmingham, AL

Zoe | Juniper Zoe Scofield & Juniper Shuey Co-Founders Seattle, WA

April 9: City Hall Auditorium, 6:00-8:00 pm 103 North Perry Street, Montgomery, AL

Bollywood Jammers Dibya Singh Tuscaloosa, AL

April 11: Ferguson Center Ballroom on UA’s campus, 3:005:00 pm 751 Campus Drive West, Tuscaloosa, AL

Jasmine Dance Ensemble Jun Xu, Founder | Director Birmingham, AL

The ADC received a Dance/USA Engaging Dance Audiences grant to support a series of “community gatherings” in multiple Alabama communities in 2018. The “community gatherings” are designed and facilitated in a way that leads participants on a personal journey through dance and builds a sense of community with other participants. “Stories in Motion” toured to Mobile on January 22 – 23 and Atmore on January 23 – 24. The April tour will include Birmingham on April 6 – 8, Montgomery on April 9 -10, and Tuscaloosa on April 11 – 12. The program description and tour details are below. All events are free and appropriate for all ages. “Stories in Motion: Community Celebration Gatherings” A Bicentennial Dance Project Celebrating Alabama’s Cultural Perspectives How does your story connect with others? How does your story inspire others? How do our collective stories celebrate who we are? And how can dance and movement weave these stories together as one? The Alabama Dance Council invites you to gather with fellow community members and local and national dancemakers to explore the idea of place, home, and community. Five communities will participate in these gatherings to honor and celebrate Alabama’s diverse cultural perspectives as part of Alabama’s Bicentennial.

April 12: The Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center, 6:008:00 pm The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa, Co-Sponsor 620 Greensboro Avenue, Tuscaloosa, AL Participating Artists: (NOTE: Artists at each location will be selected from this list. Please contact Rosemary Johnson for more information.)

Columbia, SC and Chicago, IL

MAD Skillz Dance Company Winston Strickland, Artistic Director Birmingham, AL Mexican Dance Group Corazón Azteca Norma Flores, Artistic Director Birmingham, AL Mystic Wind Choctaw Social Dance Group Dan Isaac, Director Philadelphia, MS

Dahlia Nayar Choreographer Newbury Park, CA

Nathifa Dance Company LaVondia Bryant-Square, Artistic Director Birmingham, AL

Rosie Herrera Dance Theatre Rosie Herrera, Artistic Director Miami, FL

Natyananda: Dance of India Sheila Rubin, Artistic Director Birmingham, AL

Rosy Simas Danse Rosy Simas, Artistic Director Minneapolis, MN

Notinee Indian Dance Pia Sen, Artistic Director Birmingham, AL

Wideman/Davis Dance Thaddeus Davis & Tanya Wideman-Davis Co-Artistic Directors

Shivalaya School of Classical Indian Dance Sudha Raghuram, Artistic Director Montgomery, AL

Join us for food and fellowship, dance making, and story circles to share reflections of how we are connected to Alabama, what connects us as members of a community, and how our sense of home and history further connect us. Dates, times, and locations of events open to the general public: April 6 Miles College, 3:00-5:00 pm Multi-purpose Room, President George T. French Jr. Student Activity Center Birmingham, AL April 7 Alabama Asian Cultures and Food Festival 11:30-12:15, 1:00-1:45, 2:30-3:15 >>> VISIT US ON THE WEB @ THEPLANETWEEKLY.COM

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>>> HOROSCOPES | W E E K L Y O V E R V I E W As feisty Mars syncs with cautious Saturn in your sector of far horizons this week, you may feel a push to grab a golden opportunity. The one thing that might hold you back is that it could involve a lot of hard work. You might need to juggle various commitments if you are going to fit it in. And if you’re going to do a good job, there are likely no shortcuts. Another side of you could find all this difficult to take on board, so don’t be surprised if you feel that this may be too much and that it might be easier not to bother. The sun in your social zone allows you to feel upbeat and vital. However, a tie between feisty Mars and sober Saturn in an intense sector of your chart could bring frustrating issues into the mix. These might be tied to a money matter or perhaps a personal relationship. You could find that the more you try to sort things out, the more difficult it becomes. Relaxing and going with the flow may not be easy either, but it can allow things to work out as they’re supposed to. Comments from friends may seem rather trivial, but they’re likely trying their best to help. Trying to make any headway this week could be hard. Others may be quite demanding, and their needs might take up a lot of your time and energy. You also have plans of your own to attend to, and even here the presence of Mercury retrograde can cause delays. If the pressure becomes too much, you’ll need to set some firm boundaries. Let others know that there is only so much you can do - and be strict with them. The ability to say no and mean it can be especially useful in the days ahead. Still, your friends could prove very supportive and willing to help you out in whatever way they can. The pressure may be on at the start of the week as determined Mars links to prudent Saturn. This blend of energies takes place in your work and lifestyle sector, and it could see you tackling a project that is somewhat overwhelming. Although your focus and concentration may be good, it could be a great help to delegate aspects of this task. If you encounter obstacles, try to relax. Pushing too hard might make things worse. Another side of you could be eager to explore, travel, and traverse new terrain. Are you pushing yourself too hard? If a creative project seems to be taking a toll, don’t feel guilty about enjoying a respite. Taking time out is very important because it allows you to replenish your creative side. Over the week, a clash between chatty Mercury in its retrograde phase and sobering Saturn in your leisure zone could have you wondering if your efforts are really benefiting you. This might be a good time to talk to someone who can see things from a different perspective. Perhaps with a few adjustments your plans will go more smoothly. Relationships sparkle with promise, and you may find that any important conversations seem to work out well. If you’re looking for a compromise or hoping to heal a tricky situation, you’ll likely manage. Once the sun enters your sector of relating on Tuesday, you could become aware of ways in which you can improve certain relationships. It might mean rewriting some of those unspoken rules, but this can be very worthwhile. However, starting Thursday, upbeat Mercury’s retrograde phase hints at the possibility of misunderstandings. Go easy! As dynamic Mars continues its journey through your sector of communication, you may become aware of opportunities that are still waiting for you. All you need is the courage to embrace them. The coming days and weeks could see you doing just that. There’s a lot of activity in your sector of routines and wellness, with the cosmos encouraging you to get involved with those things that excite you the most. If you want to exercise daily, pick something you enjoy. That way you’ll keep up the discipline. At the start of the week, it might be helpful to cut back on spending because delays could cause a cash-flow issue. This may not be your fault but rather an issue with a payment process or something similar. It might be helpful to keep some spare cash handy. At the same time, you could feel moved to cut back on items you don’t really need. This may clash with a desire to enjoy life. With the sun and chatty Mercury making a conflicting angle to cautious Saturn over the days ahead, a part of you might want to experience new adventures. You might be tempted to push yourself, particularly at the start of the week. If you’ve set a deadline, a tie between dynamic Mars and limiting Saturn could coincide with one or two obstacles. It might be better not to put too much pressure on yourself. The harder you try, the more difficult it could be to move ahead. You might find that getting out of your own way is also very helpful. You could be overthinking this matter when taking a more relaxed approach would help tremendously. There could be one issue that makes you feel tense or uptight, and this might coincide with the merger of fiery Mars and practical Saturn. This could be linked to a past experience or something you’re going through now. However, it’s the way you deal with it that will make all the difference. Try not to feel guilty about any of this. Instead, consider discussing it with others to get their perspective. An awkward angle between Saturn and chatty retrograde Mercury suggests that you may not want to share everything.

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Your friends could be particularly demanding during the early part of the week, which could put unnecessary pressure on you. If this has been going on for some time, you might need to take action. A powerful focus on your social sector suggests that you may already be contributing a lot to your community, clubs, and other groups, so it might be worthwhile to prioritize these activities. With stirring Mars tying to practical Saturn, this would be a great time to start. There might be times when you need to say no and mean it. In addition, if you aren’t getting paid for the extra work. One thing you could have difficulty with this week is someone telling you what to do. You might have to knuckle down and follow their instructions. This could be the way of things over this week as Mars, your guide planet, ties with prudent Saturn in your sector of goals and authority. Either someone is putting pressure on you or you’re putting pressure on yourself, and this might be hard to tolerate. However, this is something you’ll need to get used to, with sober Saturn in your career zone for some time to come.

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

Inspirations Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. Ephesians 6:10-11 (ESV) Why is everyday a battle for the Christian here on this earth? Because when we received Christ as our Savior, we became an enemy of Satan. Paul tells us that we must be strong in the Lord. He is our hope. Satan’s schemes are dangerous...his tricks, temptations and subtle tactics. Yes, he is patient and then he comes in for the kill. On our best day, we are no match for the devil on his worst day. We must be made strong in the Lord to stand against him. Until Jesus comes back, we are living behind enemy lines. — Jay Seale

STORIES IN MOTION:

COMMUNITY CELEBRATION GATHERINGS A BICENTENNIAL DANCE PROJECT January 22 - 25 & April 6 - 12, 2018

Mobile, January 22-23 Birmingham, April 6-8 Atmore, January 24-25 Montgomery, April 9-10 Tuscaloosa, April 11-12

INFO: 205.602.3599 | alabamadancecouncil.org How does your story connect with others? How does your story inspire others? How do our collective stories celebrate who we are? And how can dance and movement weave these stories together as one? The Alabama Dance Council invites you to gather with fellow community members and local and national dancemakers to explore the idea of place, home and community. Five communities are participating in these gatherings to honor and celebrate Alabama’s diverse cultural perspectives as part of Alabama’s Bicentennial. Join us for food and fellowship, dance making, and story circles to share reflections of how we are connected to Alabama, what connects us as members of a community, and how our sense of home and history further connect us.

Photo: Clark Scott

April 11, 3:00 - 5:00 pm

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April 12, 6:00 - 8:00 pm The Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center 620 Greensboro Avenue The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa, Co-Sponsor

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Courtesy UA Media Relations

SPRING FOOTBALL NOTES BAMA WILL HOLD FIRST SCRIMMAGE ON SATURDAY

labama started week three of spring drills on Tuesday. The Tide also practiced on Thursday and will hold its first spring scrimmage on Saturday. Here are a few quick notes from the first two weeks of practices. SECONDARY IS SHAPING UP Perhaps the biggest question heading into spring was the secondary, where Bama lost six players from 2017. But the early buzz this spring sounds pretty good. The word is that corners Trevon Diggs and Saivion Smith have both had two good weeks of practices. Diggs is at left corner and Smith is at right. Both are high quality athletes with excellent size for corners. Safety Deionte Thompson finished with strong performances in the playoffs last season. The feeling is that he has Eddie Jackson type potential. He is having a good spring. And rising sophomore safety Xavier McKinney has also had an impressive start. Some positive things are being said about both Jared Mayden and Shy Carter at the star spot. Redshirt freshman Kyriq McDonald is another player to watch at star and possibly safety. GOOD AND BAD AT INSIDE LINEBACKER At inside linebacker, there is some good news and some bad news. The good is that Mack Wilson and Dylan Moses have elite potential. The bad is that there is virtually no proven depth behind them. Tider Insider's Rodney Orr posted a year ago that seeing Wilson and Moses line up next to each other in drills was impressive. They look like NFL linebackers. Wilson is a physical player with a resemblance to Rueben Foster. Moses is an incredible athlete who looks ready to make a major step. Word is that redshirt freshman Markail Benton continues to occasionally flash. If he stays on track, Benton could be a key contributor in a backup role inside. I'm not sure that he will be a factor in 2018, but sophomore VanDarius Cowan should eventually be a player inside.

An interesting twist inside might be Ben Davis. The buzz is that the former Gordo star flashed some potential in the last couple of practices. Davis' stepping up would be beyond huge. BUGGS AND DAVIS LEADING THE DEFENSIVE LINE It was noted before spring drills started that Isaiah Buggs and Raekwon Davis were the rave in the off-season program. Both have carried it over into spring practice. These two could

rolltide.com become terrors next season.

before going back to guard just before the opener.

A name that keeps popping up is Quinnen Williams. After showing some flashes as a redshirt freshman last season, it sounds like "Q" has had a very good start this spring. He's showing the versatility to play different spots up front.

The feeling is that rising sophomores Alex Leatherwood and Jedrick Willis might be too good to keep off the field. Leatherwood has worked primarily at left tackle and Wills at right tackle. Both have the versatility to play guard.

Two other young DLs flashing are LaBryan Ray and Phidarian Mathis. And true freshman Stephon Wynn has been popping up as a guy to watch.

It is too early to project a starting group for next season, but it would not a surprise if Williams, Pierschbacher, Leatherwood and Wills were four of the five.

A quick note about an upcoming addition to the DL: There seems to be a good bit of excitement about the signing last week of JUCO interior DL Tevita Musika. The feeling is that the 6-1, 350-pounder has the potential to give 10, 12, maybe even 15 snaps a game. Musika will enroll this summer. OFFENSIVE LINE UPDATE On the offensive line, as expected, there is some shuffling going on. Jonah Williams has worked mostly at left tackle. But he could also get a strong look at left guard and possibly even center later this spring. There is even talk that Williams might work some at right tackle (where he started as a true freshman in 2016) before spring ends. Three-year starting left guard Ross Pierchsbacher has worked primarily at center this spring -- and word is that he has done very well so far. Center is not entirely new to Pierschbacher.. Two years ago, he spent the spring and most of August camp at center

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