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NEWS

STARTUP WEEKEND // OPPORTUNITY FOR ENTREPRENEURS 4th Quarter Drive is Launched The Chamber has launched its inaugural 4th Quarter Drive program, under the leadership of Co-Chairs Dr. Judy Bonner of The UA and Shane Spiller of Spiller Furniture & Mattress. This volunteerdriven initiative gives all our members the opportunity to market their businesses by purchasing sponsorships of 2015 Chamber events and programs. This exciting 8-week effort kicked off on Sept. 17, and will run through mid-November. Two simple goals: helping local businesses market products and services while also helping support our mission of providing top-quality events and programs. We have 100 volunteers, under the leadership of our Vice Chairs. There are more than 500 sponsorship opportunities available through Chamber events and publications. The volunteers will also seek new members for the Chamber. The 4th Quarter Drive is a great way for member volunteers to meet the region's top community leaders and business owners while working directly with our most dedicated leadership. Successful volunteers will not only expose their respective companies

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to new potential customers, but also be rewarded with cash incentives and prizes!

Start Up Weekend Planned for Aspiring Entrepreneurs Startup Weekend is a global grassroots movement of active and empowered entrepreneurs who are learning the basics of founding startups and launching successful ventures. Backed by Google and supported by your Chamber and other local entities, a Tuscaloosa event will be held Sept. 26-28 at the South Engineering Research Complex on the UA Campus.

Visit www.tuscaloosa.startupweekend.org to register and learn more.

Limited Rooms Still Available for Washington Fly-In As always, our schedule while in the nation's capital will allow time for interaction with our members of Congress as well as engagements with other elected officials. This year, the agenda will include some fun time at a Washington Nationals baseball game. Join us Sept. 24-26!

Email Stacey@tuscaloosachamber.com for details.

2014 Civic Hall of Fame Inductees Announced, Event Planned Each year, we honor "civic giants" that have made an impact on the quality, livability and economic progress of our community. Organizations, businesses and individual citizens submitted nominations for the 2014 class. 2014 Tuscaloosa County Civic Hall of Fame honorees are Davis S. "Buddy" Burton, Jr., Charles M. Durham, Carolyn B. Fritz, Lee Allen Hallman, John Woodruff Robinson, M.D., Randy C. Skagen and Charles R. Sittason. The honorees will be inducted in downtown Tuscaloosa's Government Plaza on Sept. 30 at 3 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. There is no cost to attend the event. Please RSVP to Carolyn Tubbs at 391.0556 or carolyn@tuscaloosachamber.com.

Chamber in Session: State of the State with Governor Robert Bentley Gov. Robert Bentley will give us an update on our state on Mon., Oct. 6 at 11:30a.m. at Hotel Capstone. Cost is $25/person, which includes lunch. Reserved tables of 10 are available. To reserve a seat or table, con-

tact Stacey Gann at Stacey@tuscaloosachamber.com or 391.0556. The Chamber offers its members and potential members the opportunity to interact with local, state and national leaders at these Chamber in Session events throughout the year.

Northport Citizen Dinner Tables Available‌ Former Governor Jim Folsom, Jr. is Guest Speaker The Northport Citizen Dinner will be held on Oct. 9 at 7p.m. at Five Points Baptist Church with former Gov. Jim Folsom, Jr. serving as the guest speaker. Reserved tables of 8 are available for $275, which includes the company name on the program and table. Individual tickets are $25/ person. This dinner will honor a citizen of Northport for their service as well as individuals in categories such as religion, business, education and others. Make your reservations for this event today. To reserve a seat or table, contact Stacey Gann at stacey@tuscaloosachamber.com or 391.0559.

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STORIES 4 ORGANIC ANDROIDS // ALYX CHANDLER Review of a great performance

HIGH TIDE SPORTS 21 ready for florida

By Gary Harris

6 ART THERAPY // WILLIAM BARSHOP

The Arc of Tuscaloosa meets the needs of intellectually disabled

PUBLISHER LIN DA W. JOHNSON MANAGING EDITOR B E R T PAULS EN ASSISTANT EDITOR W ILLIAM BAR SHOP COVER DESIGN LAU R A LIN E B E R R Y EVENTS W ILLIAM B A R S H OP ROAD TRIP T R E Y B R OOK S DESIGN/PRODUCTION HERB NEU

IMAGES Creative Common License unless otherwise credited.

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS W ILLIAM B A R S H OP c a r a br a ke T R E Y B R OO K S ALY X C H AN D L E R CAMILL E CO R B E TT G A R Y H A R R IS KEVIN LEDGEWOOD R ya n M a gee J U D A H MA R TIN T H E LMA PAULS E N JIM REED BRETT REID j o n r o ger s VAN R O B E R TS STEPHEN SMITH AMELIA WEBBER

Planet Weekly P. O . B o x 2 3 1 5 T u s c a l o o s a , AL 3 5 4 0 3 Phone: 205.792.7239 |

8 Ram in a jam // thelma paulsen

A severely neglected sheep finds help and a loving home

14 TRIBUTE TO GLENN HOUSE, SR. // BERT PAULSEN A tribute in passing

20 field or press box // stephen smith What suits best for Offensive Cooridinator?

22 fall tv preview // cara brake Vampires, Gotham City, and leading ladies

27 GOV'T MULE //

UA Athletic Photography

TREY BROOKS

Coming soon to the Bama

By William Barshop and Alyx Chandler

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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. © 2014 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.

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FEATURE 5 BREWFEST 2014 // CRAFT BEER & FELLOWSHIP

RESTAURANT GUIDE / WINE & BEER

MOVIE REVIEW

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Events Calendar

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Road Trip

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Tuscaloosa music

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THE FLAT SCREEN

23 Horoscopes // Sudoku 24 CROSSWORD PUZZLe

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Photos: Alyx Chandler

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THE ORGANIC ANDROIDS // STAY TUNED

Try to imagine planet Earth thousands of years from now, stuck in a post-apocalyptic time where musical sound is an unreachable prospect. An all-encompassing government rules, and it possesses technology that allows it to be in full control. Though the human race still exists, it's being reprogrammed into androids, void of decision making or joy.

But organic sound and counter resistance exists within a single band, one that fights robotic acceptance with buzzing frequencies and mind-saving guitar riffs.

“Basically, it's a band that's so good that they take over the world, like in the apocalypse or something,” vocalist and rapper Justin Hammonds said, “and they play this epic show, and then they just disappear into space, into this great existence.”

Now, back to reality.

It's a Saturday night in Tuscaloosa, around 1 a.m. The string of little light bulbs and beer can-lined walls of Tuscaloosa's Green Bar rattled as the Organic Androids jounced its music-savvy bar and fans. Hammonds puts on a passionate show for even the small crowd, with a wild stream of break dances that gets the crowd moving.

Fans, meet the Organic Androids.

They are a band grooving both as a post-apocalyptic cyborg awakener in a tobe novelette series and as a 2014 electric rock, hip-hop tinged opener for bands such as Mother Funk and Karl Denson's Tiny Universe. On Saturday, September 14, the Organic Androids road-tripped from their newest home location of Nashville, Tenn., to play a night at downtown Tuscaloosa, where they rocked everything from covers of Portugal the Man to a mashup of Pretty Lights to some catchy Outkast, in addition to featuring some of their earlier released songs available on iTunes.

The young Tuscaloosa-originated band began by playing covers at bars in Alabama for a about a year, then officially

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became the Organic Androids for the last two and a half years. The band currently consists of six members and one artist: Guitarist and lead vocalist Jeremy Moulder, lead vocalist Justin Hammonds, keyboardist John McNair, bassist Drew Shelnut, lead guitarist Gaines Cooper, drummer Grant Bramlett and Artistic Director Tyler Key. “Essentially, very loosely, we're a concept band, and we say graphic novel is the genre. And so it's going to be this continuing story of the Organic Androids. The music isn't going to be directly tied to the graphic novel, but we are going to have that continuing on, so that it gives people something else to have,” said Bramlett.

John Williamson, a local Tuscaloosa graphic artist nicknamed “Squash,” sparked “a creative world for the band,” as Hammonds said, when they discovered his graphic novel called “Organic Androids” several years ago. The novel features a futuristic band that alters a crowd's mins before the band's boggling performance, then as the crowd begins to awaken, the band disappears into space.

But it leaves a legacy, one Hammonds compares to “Daft Punk.”

“Basically one day I went up to this guy [Williamson] to ask him if we could use the band name, and he looked me in the face and said, 'If you're going to be serious about Organic Androids, you can have it,' and I said, 'Sir, we're more than serious.'

That was three years ago,” Hammonds laughed. “Now we're trying to progress even more.”

Although the plot line in the novelette of “Organic Androids” is not the same story as the band, they took specific inspiration from Williamson's idea of a mass human awakening. Currently the band is working with Key and writers at Vanderbilt to storyboard and develop a graphic novel to artistically aid the band. Their version of the Organic Androids, different from Williamson's novelette, will feature a band struggling to thrive in a futuristic

world where creativity is forbidden by the government.

It will highlight their fight to rouse feeling in human androids that have been programmed robotically. Three separate mini novelettes featuring the Organic Androids will be released, probably one per album. The three together will then be put together to represent the band's first full novelette.

“We become on the run, we go through crashes, we're slowly being replaced with robotic parts, but we're still playing, as more and more [human] parts are taken, making us more like androids,” Key said. “But when we play shows, we have this realization—we are more than what's happening.”

With only an EP on iTunes and no current graphic novels released, what does the band want its daily rising fan base to know?

“Stay tuned,” the band said, grinning.

The Organic Android members explained that their inspiration comes from a variety artists, from Pink Floyd to the Roots to Gorillaz, and their eccentric music ranges in genres all over the grid. They take bluesy, head-nodding pop, transforming different songs into fast-changing, funky beats, most verging with a psychedelic edge. Ultimately the technical music taste distinction between each band member—most graduated with musical majors, as well as Molder with a degree in sound audio engineering—generates a totally new and unique sound in the current music scene.

“We just had everyone [in the band] put their on spin on things, and the distinct sound we have now didn't come till a year and a half of practicing,” Bramlett said.

During the Green Bar show, they premiered only two sneak peak songs, called Robotiks and Belly of the Beast, that will be on their upcoming album. The band members are more than excited to start recording the band's first album in about month.

“Having different tastes and talents, that's one of the things that really makes this band unique. We all listen to hip hop, jam band music, and some of us listen to metal, while some of us listen to jazz and classical...It's really all over the board,” said Moulder.

With the projected recording finish date for around December, their current plan is to have the album released in the beginning months of 2015, along with their first small novelette featuring the robot-battling adventure of the Organic Androids band members.

“Stay tuned for the new CD—it's going to be big. All of our stuff that's on iTunes at this point, it's two years old.

It's a totally different sound,” Moulder said. “So in the future when someone sees our name and gets interested enough to look online, they'll

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see us, not this old version of us.”

Although making it big as a band is a long shot, Hammonds said by opening for so many bands with a following similar to their unique style, they've got their feet wet in gaining fans and learning to play and market their music professionally, and that “now they're going to try to swim and stay afloat” with the new album.

All the while during their shows, their Artist Director Tyler Key, also a marketing and music graduate from the University of Alabama, used shades of chalk to paint a live scene while the band performed, as he does for almost every concert.

“I found the idea of a band being painted so powerful because it captures how they're seen by the crowd, but also it captures the particular environment of the concert and how the band can change over time. It was super cool for the artist to let me witness this small moment be turned into something permanent,” Dylan McCaghren, a senior majoring in marketing and spanish at the University of Alabama said after attending the Green Bar show.

After four to five times of doing live performance art for the Organic Androids, they asked Key to be considered part of band as full-time Artistic Director, and to do live art for every show. He is also currently in the process of working on the story boards for the novelette series. He posts and tags every art piece on Organic Androids Instagram and website for marketing, as well as sometimes selling the art after the show to fans, like he did at the Green Bar that Saturday.

“It's kind of nerve-racking at first, especially in Tuscaloosa, theres not a huge live appreciation of art,” Key said. “Mostly though, I had a really good reception from people, even at bars.”

Look for the Organic Androids at the 20th anniversary of the BayFest festival in Mobile, Alabama, scheduled to play on October 4. Otherwise keep an ear out for the release of their new album and the first act of their novelette series.

“Everyone's trying to make music their life,” said Hammonds. “It's so easy to lose your focus in one thing of life, but you have to have someone or have something to awaken you, to keep your focus there— that's what this band is about.”

Remember fans, stay tuned.

>>> E V E N T | W I L L I A M B A R S H O P / A LY X C H A N D L E R

BEER AND FELLOWSHIP // ALABAMA BREWFEST

The fall months are sneaking up on us in spite of the persistent, blistering heat, and when those cool evenings finally greet Alabama, having the right beer in hand will once again be essential to the season of relaxation. When Druid City Brewing Company set up shop in Tuscaloosa, honing in on one’s favorite craft beer got a whole lot easier, with a wide variety to choose from at many Tuscaloosa establishments. Just last year, though, the town briefly became a wonderland of beer choices to sip and sniff and ponder at the first annual Brewfest.

Brewfest returns this year with more than 50 vendors offering their unique craft beers Sept. 26 and 27 at the grounds of the L&N Train Station in Downtown Tuscaloosa.

“You get a sample glass when you get there and you can sample as many of the beers as you like,” said Bill Lloyd, the owner of Green Bar and a sponsor of Brewfest.

“Most of the breweries bring three or four beers apiece so you have a lot of options.”

Another Tuscaloosa brewery present will be the Black Warrior Brewing Company, found on University Blvd across from City Hall. The company recommends Apricot Wheat for tasters new to the world of craft beer, or the Strawberry Blonde for a balance of malt sweetness and tart strawberry flavors. Every week the brewery showcases a new beer, like the Hefeweizen, a German-style wheat beer with hints of banana and cloves. The company website is great for researching everything from the alcohol content to the color index of each specialty beer.

“We’re trying to feature Alabama breweries,” Lloyd said. “This is craft beer from all over, from California and Colorado, also.”

Last year, Birmingham’s Good People Brewing Company was a hit at the event with their Coffee Oatmeal Stout and Snake Handler impressing aficionados and amateurs in equal measure.

Greg Moore, local graphic design professional in addition to a photographer for Work Company of America, wasn't able to attend last year, but is excited to get a chance to this year.

“I'd be called a beer lover, I'd say,” Moore said. “That is sure worth $30.”

Moore said he's a huge fan of the growing enthusiasm for local beer in the Tuscaloosa community.

“Getting together with friends and trying out new beers, I love it. I can exhibit mini reviews while hanging out with friends,” Moore said. Tuscaloosa has two major brewing festivals, this one in the Fall and one in the Spring, although he hopes the amount of festivals continues to grow to match the constant flow of new varieties of flavors of other metro areas around the country.

“They've been doing a pretty strong job so far, I don't see why they can't continue,” Moore said.

“If you don't know craft beers or need to find the style you want—be it IPA, Pilsner or a stout, you can find it there,” said EJ Hardin, a communications student at the University of Alabama. He also brews his own wine and beer at home, and loves experimenting with different tastes and flavors.

After attending the Alabama Brewfest last year, he was impressed by the great atmosphere and selections from across the country and state. As Hardin said, “A lot of fun people who enjoy beer,” what's better? Paired with a “noteworthy price,”

it makes for a perfect night. Nothing like drinking more than one’s fair share to make an outing memorable.

Between enthusiasts like Hardin and newcomers like Moore, the crowd at Brewfest will be both easygoing and knowledgeable, perfect for anyone who likes to sit back with a good beverage. The event promises to be a fun way to spend an evening on Friday or Saturday, with food trucks with refreshments from local vendors and live music to keep everyone tapping their toes.

“There will be brewery reps there with all the information on all the different beers,” Lloyd said. “You can talk to people from the breweries and learn a little about beer.”

VIP tickets are available at brownpapertickets.com, which allow a festival-goer to enter an hour before the other guests and get a head start on tasting the vibrant selection of beers. A commemorative Brewfest t-shirt is also included in the package.

Marketing representative Haley Ackerman is fielding volunteers to pour at the festival on Facebook. University of Alabama students can volunteer through their myBama account, granted they are over 21 years of age.

Regular tickets are $30 in advance and

$40 at the event, so make plans early to visit Brewfest for a medley of well-crafted beverages and excellent company.

30-foot tasting bar where patrons may sample "juices" for free.

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SEPTEMBER 18 + OCTOBER 2

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EXPRESSION THROUGH ART THERAPY // THE ARC OF TUSCALOOSA

PHOTOS: KEVIN LEDGEWOOD

forms and mastering the ones they know.

“They always come up with their own process,” Yates said. “They’re creative minds with something to communicate, so they’ll always have something to get out there.”

The Creative Expressions III exhibition will be on display at Bama Theatre through Sept. 26.

A n extra-wide, blank canvas lay out on the concrete. A crowd creative minds arm themselves with 250 water balloons full of paint to splash across the white space, and dowels and stirrers to flick like magic wands. Most splatter paintings are hung up when the color is unleashed, but this one is on the ground so painters in wheelchairs can work alongside standing ones. All the artists have some kind of disability, and the splatter painting is part of the art therapy program provided by the Arc of Tuscaloosa.

The Arc has been meeting the needs of adults with intellectual disabilities since 1957, starting in Minneapolis, Minn. and branching out into a network of state and local chapters. Tuscaloosa County’s chapter curated a gallery exhibition of artwork made in the weekly art therapy that is open at the historic Bama Theatre until Sept. 26.

“The choir sang, the food was wonderful,” said Donna Callahan, the Arc of Tuscaloosa’s interim executive director.

“It was such a good night for it, and so many people stuck around to enjoy it.”

The gallery debuted full collections from four artists from the Arc, Matthew A., Curtis D., Gloria H., and Anthony W., along with individual works and team efforts from other art therapy consumers.

Will Yates, the art therapy instructor, said all the artists were confident in their work and appreciated all the good feedback.

“They just want people to see what they’ve done,” Yates said. “They’re able to make something on a professional level so they love being recognized just when someone says they like their painting.”

Anthony W., one of the Arc’s most prolific painters created the popular piece “Five Minutes of Funk” and another painting depicting the Twin Towers in New York.

The art projects at the Arc have hit every corner of the creative world, from Christmas ornaments with swirling glass to vibrant, dyed silk scarves. The scarves were a project conceived by Carol Woodard, the Arc of Tuscaloosa’s bookkeeper, who played her own part in the art therapy group.

“It’s a collaboration,” Callahan said.

“We all contribute whatever we can.”

The goals of art therapy sessions are usually sensory stimulation and personal

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expression, both engaging the senses and communicating what someone is feeling. Of course, everyone wants to get festive during the holidays, so seasonal projects are popular.

“For Thanksgiving we might paint a cornucopia,” Yates said. “They really went crazy for the gingerbread houses.

We tried to make a neighborhood but once everything was laid out it was free rein.”

Sensory stimulation can be an important part of someone’s routine if they have an intellectual or sensory disability.

Art therapy participants often open up and become more relaxed and social when they have an opportunity to work with their hands or vibrant color, Yates said.

“We have one guy who is deaf and blind in one eye,” Yates said. “He’s very in tune with his fingertips, so once he gets into a project he’s interacting with everyone in class, having a good time.”

Other projects focus on bright, engaging colors. Making dye patterns on t-shirts is a favorite because of how every shirt comes out unique. Sometimes, though, just the chance to express oneself is enough to brighten their day.

“One guy is obsessed with Nascar,” Yates said. “No matter what we do, whether it’s a sculpture or an ornament, there’s going to be a racecar.”

Whatever the medium, creativity always shines through when the group has time to get the hang of something new.

“I’ll give them something to work with like stamps and see what they come up with,” Yates said. “I’m always surprised at how many different ways they work.

We’re creating a unique perspective.

That’s what Creative Expressions is all about.”

The Arc’s main services are rehabilitation programs and supportive employment. Job coaches talk to businesses about the benefits of hiring someone with a disability and pair up positions with the right workers for the job.

“They prove to be such good employees,” Callahan said. “They’re always there on time and they work as hard as anyone.”

The Arc also organizes the Sounds of Joy choir, a singing group that performs popular songs like “Lean on Me” and “America, the Beautiful” all around the

state. The group is often requested in schools, churches and nursing homes, and they have travelled to Mobile and Birmingham to sing.

“They sing those heartstring-pulling songs that people love to hear,” Callahan said. “They’re in very high demand, and now is there busy season.”

Overall, the Arc aims to make adults with disabilities feel welcome and accepted, all while trying to improve their quality of life.

The art therapy team splatter painting sold for $300 in the show’s first weekend, and all the proceeds go right back to art supplies for new projects. From paint and brushes to clay or fabric, the Arc’s resident artists’ primary goal is taking on new

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>>> A L B U M R E V I E W S | WILLIAM BARSHOP

DEATH FROM ABOVE 1979, AND PERFUME GENIUS // TWO BANDS AND TWO REVIEWS

Success as an indie buzz-band takes just three easy steps: Make one good album, win some kind of cosmic-marketing lottery, and make a few more albums. The first step can be skipped if you really hit the mega-millions, but the second and third are mostly mandatory.

Death From Above 1979’s Jesse F. Keeler and Sebastien Grainger seemed like they had made the right deal with the devil with their 2004 album, You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine. The high-octane punk record ran on the kind of brash enthusiasm usually reserved for circus acts, and fans matched the vibe in earnest. It was loud, vulgar and unpolished but it was distinctly fun with no disclaimers. After charting a new direction for punk rock and hitting an unbelievable jackpot of popularity for a band of their kind, the duo ignored Step Three for 10 whole years. This year, they reunited to give us The Physical World.

Listening to a record so similar to You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine makes for a disorienting trip to the mid-2000s, but the time loop is welcome when it means fielding fuzz-grenades like “Government Trash.” Rockers of any age can scream “21! 21!” and pound whatever’s around to Grainger’s meaty drumbeat.

Elsewhere, we find lyrics like the chorus of “Right On, Frankenstein!” that could only be revived from a simpler time for poppunk. DFA 1979 pull off lines like “I don’t wanna die but I wanna be buried/Meet me at the gates of the cemetery” a full five years after Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ “Heads Will Roll” and it still sounds wicked cool.

The squealing guitars on “Gemini” alone deserve their own reunion tour.

At other times, the band’s spirit seems worn down and misfiring. “White is Red” drags us through a half-baked narrative of a teen runaway, padded with the mantra, “She crossed the line/she crossed the line” until the song feels long enough to end. Keeler offers the lifeless statement that we can’t see the future on “Crystal Ball,” adding nothing to sentiment except an unremarkable riff. No one needed reminding which direction time moves in, but we spend three minutes on the lesson.

Stiff, phoned-in songs make the good

ones seems like the product of a persona, something no one suspected on their previous output.

DFA 1979 take brief adventures from their sound, but none too surprising. “Trainwreck 1979” sounds like an AC/DC song written by a third, more lucid Young brother hoping to score a Verizon Wireless commercial. The title track starts out as a chiptune nightmare and closes the album with a robotic funeral march. The noise throughout is a little more restrained, though it doesn’t trade abrasiveness for catchiness; You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine is still better party music.

It may be natural for fans to gripe that this record would be so much better as a glorious 2006 follow-up, cementing Death From Above 1979 as a punk-rock prototype, but it would have been even wilder to hear in 2002 or 1965 or 1812. To some fault, this band is behind the times, but The Physical World is exhilarating right now. And just rocking out isn’t something to complain about.

The Physical World is available now via Last Gang Records/Warner Bros.

Perfume Genius Melodrama is always a gamble. You could hit the sweet spot for a strong reaction, or overdo it and get come off as “trying too hard,” a mortal sin in art, high and low. Remarkably, Mike Hadreas of Per-

Good”). In an interview with Wondering Sound’s Jayson Greene, Hadreas pointed to Raymond Carver and Lorrie Moore as the kind of writers he tends to emulate.

“It’s very simple language and you have to read between the lines to get everything.

But there’s still a lot of heart to it. I don’t find it cold.”

Hadreas’ slurred, barely-there vocals demand close attention to pick out, and the fine details you find when you burrow deep into each song’s crevices are reward enough. It’s fitting, then, that the album’s last words on “All Along” are “I don’t need you to understand/I need you to listen.”

This is the Perfume Genius we know.

On the lead single, “Queen” he leaves tenderness on hold to transform himself into a parody of the public menace that people see when he walks down the street. The singer puts on a queer monster mask, hunting for innocents to infect with the gay agenda like a Scooby Doo villain, predatory and ugly with “skin sewn on in sheets.”

Threatening sirens frame the kicker: “No family is safe when I sashay.”

A lifelong struggle with Crohn’s disease makes him a monster too on “My Body,” where he slithers out from the underworld to invite you in “if you handle the stink.” On “Grid” he’s a banshee warning

you to turn back with long, chilling shrieks that drown out a choir’s chanting. The common structure is a scene of murk and shadows, smashed by a blinding light.

Nestled between the horrors are quietly powerful statements like “Don’t Let Them In.” In another time, the tune could have been a Dionne Warwick or Carole King standard, but it’s Hadreas who feels “trapped in this body” and too exhausted to greet company. Gumdrop-sweet piano chords lift the crushing sadness.

The album is divided unevenly between these styles, though, sometimes feeling disorganized when we jump between moods without warning. Signature Perfume Genius piano ballads feel like grainy home movies while the glam-rock half plays like a blockbuster thriller. Both can make us laugh or cry, but the two poles probably shouldn’t borrow from each other. No one asked for Paranormal Activity: The Musical. With pointed grace, Too Bright skirts that line and still comes out feeling genuine.

On the wildly confrontational half of this record, Perfume Genius shoots the moon, and on the gentle, pleading melodies, he floats among the stars.

Too Bright is available Sept. 23 via Matador Records.

fume Genius has never made a misstep, though he treads far from the range of subtlety. On 2012’s “Hood,” Hadreas sang “you would never call me baby if you knew the truth,” a line that would feel flimsy and plastic in the hands of a lesser performer, but broke a thousand hearts behind his confessional cry. Not only does Hadreas hold on to his streak of resonance on Too Bright, he actually ups the intensity and opens up the drama to a wider cast of emotions.

The majority of songs in Perfume Genius’ catalog follow the formula of tender piano keys and frank introversion, with Hadreas taking his time to arrange his soul with care. When he drops lines like “There’s no safe place for the heart to hang when the body’s no good,” he leaves plenty of space for the idea to occupy (“No

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RAM IN A JAM // THE SAGA OF STEWY

It started off as a routine Saturday.

At the full-glass storm door looking onto the front lawn, our three dogs began raising a unified ruckus, their usual behavior.

If one of them detects a suspicious sound or sight out there, in the vast view of green and blue, and starts barking, the other two join in with no clear idea of what they’re barking about. They love looking out that door.

Although we always step up to glance out, just in case, we usually dismiss their yelps of alarm as nothing and turn away.

“Quiet,” we tell them. It’s a word they understand.

Yet on this recent Saturday, we did not turn away nor tell them to hush. Instead my husband put on his glasses and stepped outside. “What is that?” I heard him mutter.

The plot of land on which we reside in our mountaintop cottage is not large, certainly not by comparison with the farms all around us. The road in front of our dwelling connects a secondary highway miles away on one end to a road by the lake on the way to Scottsboro at the other.

On both ends our road—dotted with farms, ponds, canyon vistas and livestock—snakes back down the mountain.

Cars move along it too fast.

My husband adjusted his glasses as he peered at the property just across the road. That elevated acreage sits higher than the road that passes just in front.

On the ledge of that yard overlooking the thoroughfare stood an animal with curling horns, large oval eyes and a massive and grotesquely shaped coat of wool.

“There’s a ram in the yard across the road,” he exclaimed hurriedly as he dashed inside for the camera, then rushed back outside and began clicking away.

I stepped out to observe the goings on.

The animal made longing and direct eye contact but looked frightened and lost and uncertain, all of which he was.

Concerned that it would attempt to cross the dangerous road, my husband walked over to the ram. The hot, matted helmet of wool, which encompassed

8

SEPTEMBER 18 + OCTOBER 2

this neglected animal, was shocking to observe up close. It puffed out from his frame like layer upon layer of shoulder pads (body pads) and was brown and putrid and weighted the full length of the creature’s underbelly.

Looking at one another across the road as we communicated on our cell phones about the status of the sheep and the situation that had suddenly jolted our Saturday morning into a unknown direction, my husband and I strategized a plan of action: I would go inside and search online for any resources or rescues that might help out this clearly distressed sheep, and he would stay with the ram to keep it safe and would call a farmer who lived nearby in an effort to find some answers.

It took a while for him to reach the farmer, but when he did the man agreed to make a few calls—see if anyone he knew was missing a ram. His nephew who lived down the road had sheep; he’d also call him.

At first the ram was frightened, hesitant, guarded about this human lingering about, but he didn’t flee—he needed help. My husband sat down on the ground near him and began talking to him. That seemed to work with this oddly soulful creature. The ram walked over and allowed his muzzle to be stroked before moving to the base of a nearby tree and lying down.

My husband joined him, sitting back against the trunk of the same tree. I called him on the cell with an update: I’d left messages with three rescues and had called the local vet, I told him. No luck yet.

He waited for nearly an hour for the farmer to show up with his nephew, sitting side by side with the odiferous ram. Finally the farmer and his nephew appeared. I walked over to join them. No one knew to whom the ram might belong.

After some minutes of interaction, it became clear that the farmer and his nephew viewed the unfolding situation a little differently than my husband and I did. We saw a lost, suffering animal. They

Once in the yard, my husband tethered saw a piece of livestock, a commodity. him to a maple tree out front as the farmer They readily acknowledged the serious and his nephew prepared to depart. neglect involved. It was unfortunate, they “Good luck,” they said. admitted, but they really didn’t want to get “I’m going to try cutting off some of this involved. wool,” my husband declared to me as he There was no official rescue locally slid a bench over from the side yard and to come to the aid of such an animal. We took off in search of cutting implements. could call the local sheriff’s office, the “Stay here with him until I get back.” farmer advised. “’Course they’d probably The ram was gently pulling and tugjust shoot the ram,” he later conceded. ging against the rope and periodically Between the farmer and his son down getting his legs entangled, but he was the road, they owned at least a hundred attentive and responsive to human voice acres with multiple ponds and fenced-in and human touch. With those slanted pastures occupied by a dozen goats and yellow-brown eyes that encompassed a donkey. Still, they said, they didn’t room hues of green, this seemingly intelligent for this guy. Sheep and goats don’t get and intuitive creature made eye-to-eye along, the farmer advised. and heart-to-heart contact with both of us.

The nephew had a busy-looking little We were unexpectedly moved. farm down the road with a variety of My husband returned with his tools— livestock closely sharing his fields. He a pair of heavy-duty scissors and three commented on the extreme condition of serrated knives—and got to work. With the sheep’s wool; in fact, he’d never seen gloves on his hands, he literally began anything like it. The nephew shook his sawing away at the masses of fecalhead at the dire state of this animal. Yet infested wool that hung from below the he couldn’t help out the sheep either; he expressed concern that this ram might get beast and the rock-like wool masses on the sides of his torso. into a fight with his.

With few breaks, he kept at it for four What about the man just down the hours. Sticks, thorns and debris were road with a pond so large it might qualify deeply embedded in the sheep’s matted as a lake and fenced-in fields holding wool, and poked into his skin as my huscattle and llamas? No, said the farmer, that neighbor wouldn’t be able to do it either because he rents his fields out to others.

In fact, that man had seen the ram a day or so earlier himself but was not inclined to intervene.

And so the dialogue went until the three men roped the horns of the subdued ram and led him across the road and into our yard. The ram little gave resistance to the rope, although guiding 20-gallon sack of rotting wool took 4 hours and barely him across the road scratched the surface. seemed frightening.

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>>> CO N T I N U E D F R O M P R E V I O U S PAG E band’s knife pulled at the tangled fleece.

After filling a twenty-gallon bag with the hardened, rotting wool, my husband determined he could go no further.

“That’s all I can do,” he declared, finally. It was now approaching evening.

We’d heard nothing back from our efforts to reach out to rescue groups. “It’s the weekend,” noted my husband, and we began to plan for accommodating the sheep overnight.

We have a fenced-in back yard for our three dogs and open yards on the sides and front. Our dogs behave when we’re After the head butt from the ram, Jock out front with them, so we put the ram in reevaluates his status. Then, sheepishly, the fenced-in yard. The dogs were inside retreats indoors for a nap. the house.

But when we took them out to the side eyes and seemed to listen intently when yard and our rescue Chow saw the ram, we murmured to him that he was going he charged toward the chain-link gate and to be okay and told him how beautiful he burst through. The ram began a fervent was. He followed us around the yard. gallop as the Chow chased after him. “Oh The next morning, Sunday, April Russ no,” we uttered as we attempted to protect of Shamballa Wildlife Rescue gave us the ram. a call. Even though their non-profit is Yet in matter of seconds that need was “…dedicated to the rescue, rehab and eliminated as the ram stopped abruptly, release of Alabama wildlife,” they were arched his torso around and head-butted compassionately coming through for the the charging Chow. Equally stunned were sheep. She needed to make a few more my husband, my self and our dog. “Game calls; she thought she had a home for changed,” we snickered to ourselves. him. Could we keep him one more night?

That evening my husband announced Absolutely, we said. that he was going to put in a call to Jamie In the meantime, my husband had alGlasgow, a local vet tech who sometimes ready shared the experience of encounterpet-sat our menagerie. Jamie was at a ing and caring for the ram on his Facebook celebration party for her friend, April Russ, feed and generated much interest from who had just become an American citizen like-minded souls moved by the ram’s from her native country of Ireland. My husplight and progress. People were following band described the ram’s and our dilemma the outcome. and asked Jamie whether she knew of any Online, folks began weighing in with resources we might turn to for assistance. thoughts and opinions about the lost ram Jamie informed him that ironically her and his state. Judging from the growth of friend April operated an animal sanctuhis horns, some said, he was around a ary—Shamballa Wildlife Rescue—with her year to a year-and-a-half old. Regarding husband, John. They didn’t take in farm his breed, Shetland was the answer identianimals, but maybe they knew someone fied by the Facebook followers. who did. She’d ask and pass on our conAfter spending the morning caring for tact info to her friend. their pets and wildlife, the Russes from It was at this point in the saga that the Shamballa called for directions and began dots began to connect serendipitously. the thirteen-mile journey through the I’d looked up any animal referral and/or beautiful countryside in the direction of rescue groups, or sheep shearers, I could our property. With the ram roped around find in the area. I’d left private messages his horns once again, he and my husband on their Facebook pages, sent emails to stood waiting. their contacts and left voice messages if What an interesting couple the Russes there was a number. One of those meswere. John was friendly and focused, sages had been to Shamballa, explaining keeping our chatty selves on task. Semper the plight of the lost sheep and our lack of Fi stickers dotted the bumper of his truck. acreage to care for it. Now, at the party, His gregarious wife donned a western hat Jamie had also told them about the resContinued on page 12 cued ram.

His first night sleeping in the back yard with access to a garage had gone well, with the exception that when our dogs came into his view in the side yard, he rammed our chain-link fence so hard that we feared for its stability.

Note to self: don’t take dogs over there.

Toward us the ram remained responsive, affectionate even. And although much more wool needed to be removed, the ram had to already feel freer and lighter My husband and Stewy awaiting John and April from and relieved. He nuzzled Shamballa Wildlife Rescue. close to us, looked into our

Hannah Brown with granddaughter, Maggie Arrington, in Tuscany

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SEPTEMBER 18 + OCTOBER 2

9

>>> wine REVIEW | J O N R O G E R S

TWO WEST COAST PINOT NOIRS // TWO GOOD RECOMMENDATIONS

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W here to E at in T uscaloosa

BREAKFAST / LUNCH Brown Bag 9425 Jones Road | Northport // 333.0970 Its speciality, fried green tomatoes, joins barbecue plates and fish filets on an extended list of meats and vegetables.

Tues 10:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Wed-Sat 10:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.

City Cafe 408 Main Ave | Downtown Northport // 758.9171 Established in 1936. Big on food, low on price. Open for breakfast and lunch. Historic downtown Northport. Closed weekends.

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

Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is one of the most well-known Oregon Pinot Noir wines from the Willamette Valley. This review is of the 2011 vintage of their Estate Pinot Noir.

Willamette Vineyards was founded by Jim Bernau in 1983 when he purchased the site where the Estate resides. He then planted Pinot Noir and other varietals on the site.

In 1989 he went ahead and built the winery to be able to produce enough quantity to sell to restaurants and stores.

The grapes for Willamette Valley Pinot Noir are grown in well-drained soil with oxidized iron content. According to the bottle, the wine was aged for 9 months in oak and was harvested between October 1st and November 2nd of 2011. Alcohol content 12.5% by volume.

For this review, I again had the help from a good friend with a great palate for wine tasting.

We observed that the bottle had a wealth of technical information about the wine on it.

You don’t often see as much information as was on this bottle and we both appreciated seeing the wine’s technical stats.

Price for Willamette Valley Pinot Noir about $30.00. I received this bottle as a gift from my neighbors, who have great taste in wine.

In the glass, the wine was light garnet in color. Much darker than a rose but lighter than most Cabernets. Plenty of light shone through the glass.

Some legs were observed, but overall the wines appears light in the glass.

Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is very aromatic. A fully developed and medium intensity fragrance was noted immediately upon opening the bottle.

We both noted hints of subtle floral, a little spicy clove and fresh cherry on the nose. Very enjoyable with just a slight whiff of alcohol noted. Flavor of the Willamette Valley Pinot Noir was warm and bright. My friend noted a little bit of spice, currant and more floral notes. My observation was similar and also that some good oak came through.

Well balanced tannins were noted all over the mouth with minimal bitterness.

Mouthfeel was regarded as “milky” and “silky” by us. The wine had a medium finish and finished light.

Overall, I thought this was my favorite Oregon Pinot Noir so far. I really liked the lightness and pureness of the varietal.

My friend, who normally enjoys a good robust Cabernet Sauvignon also enjoyed it, but said it’s more of a warm season sipper than a winter wine.

Recommend!

10

SEPTEMBER 18 + OCTOBER 2

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

Meiomi Pinot Noir Review Meiomi Pinot Noir is sourced from Monterey, Santa Barbara and Sonoma counties in California. According to the bottle, the word Meiomi comes from the California Wappo tribe and means “coast”. The vineyards where Meiomi Pinot Noir come from are all coastal vineyards in California.

Joseph Wagner is the winemaker for Meiomi Pinot Noir. He carefully crafts the wine to take advantage of the layers that come from the three different vineyards that make up the wine.

The alcohol content of Meiomi Pinot Noir is 13.9% by volume.

The wine pours dark in the glass with colors of deep plum. Perhaps darker than the average Pinot Noir, light doesn’t shine through this wine. Meiomi Pinot Noir is very leggy in the glass with many slow dripping tears that remain on the sides of the glass for some time.

Upon first sniff, I immediately noticed a good spicy whiff of alcohol in the nose.

You want to allow the wine to get some air for several minutes in order to mute this effect. This wine is aromatic with a very lofty nose. From afar I picked up some hints of mocha. Up close revealed leathery black raspberry scents. All in all, very enjoyable.

Sipping the Meiomi Pinot Noir gave forth flavors of multiple bright berries.

This lighter and brighter flavor contrasted well with the heavy appearance and milky mouthfeel. Additionally, an initial chaos of complexity was noticed in the first taste.

Things settled down a bit after the wine had a chance to breathe.

Bright tannins were noticed. The wine also finished somewhat bright. The finish length was short to medium initially on the tongue. A longer dark berry finish on the cheeks was also noticed.

Overall, I thought the Meiomi Pinot Noir was great! A nice lush Pinot Noir at a good price. I enjoyed the fact that there were multiple facets to the tasting experience.

One bright and the other deep and dark. I think this is attributable to the winemaker’s goal to achieve the “best expressions” of the different coastal vineyards.

I would strongly suggest letting this wine decant for a good fifteen minutes or so to allow the alcohol to dissipate a bit.

The wine reviewed was a 2011. I’m sure that cellaring this wine for a couple years would add to the tasting experience.

Highly recommend!

Price for Meiomi Pinot Noir about $19.99.

More wine reviews by Jon Rogers at www.honestwinereviews.com

International House of Pancakes 724 Skyland Blvd // 366.1130 Jack's 1200 Hackberry Lane | Tuscaloosa // 345.1199 Maggie's Diner 1307 Ty Rogers Jr. Ave | Tuscaloosa // 366.0302 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. 7 a.m. – 4 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

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

MEXICAN Chipotle Mexican Grill 1800 McFarland Blvd E | Midtown Village // 391.0140 www.chipotle.com Don Rafa's 2313 4th Street | Temerson Square // 345.9191 El Mariachi 3520 McFarland Blvd E |Tuscaloosa // 409-8585

Thursday of every month. Happy Hour- Mon-Fri from 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. featuring 1/2 price appetizers. $2 Domestic Draft Beers and $3 Well cocktails.

Epiphany Cafe 19 Greensboro Ave | Downtown Tuscaloosa // 344.5583 “New American cuisine” with a strong emphasis on local produce, organic meats, and sustainable seafood. The menu is always changing and features include an extensive wine list, a large vibrant bar and martini lounge area, as well as patio seating. Reservations are available online at epiphanyfinedining.com or through open table. Hours: Mon–Sat 5 p.m. - until Evangeline’s 1653 McFarland Blvd. North // 752.0830 Located in the Tuscaloosa Galleria. 2004 West Alabama Tourism Award Winning Restaurant. American Eclectic Cuisine. Lunch: Mon–Fri 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Dinner: Tues–Sat 5 p.m. - until... Fall: Saturday Brunch.

FIVE Bar 2324 6th Street. // 205.345.6089 A restaurant/bar based on simplicity. We offer 5 entrees, 5 red wines, 5 white wines, 5 import beers, 5 domestic, and 5 signature cocktails, to go along with our full liquor bar.

Dinner: Sunday - Thursday 5-10; Friday and Saturday 5-12 Lunch: Friday and Saturday 11-3; Sunday Jazz Brunch: 10-3 five-bar.com; 205.345.6089 Kozy’s 3510 Loop Road E | near VA Medical Center // 556.4112 Eclectic menu, extensive wine list. Dinner at Kozy’s is a romantic experience complete with candlelight and a roaring fireplace. |killionrestaurants.com/kozys/ Twin 3700 6th St, Tuscaloosa in Tuscaloosa Country Club | 758-7528 | http://twinpowersactivate.com Certified USDA Prime Steaks; specialty Sushi and cocktails.

Hours: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.; 5 – 10 p.m.

JAPANESE Benkei Japanese Steak House 1223 McFarland Blvd // 759-5300 Hours: Mon–Thurs 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. | Fri–Sat 5 p.m. - 10 p.m.

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.

Ichiban Japanese Grill & Sushi 502 15th Street // 752.8844 Tokyo Japanese Steak & Sushi Bar 6521 Hwy 69 S | Hillcrest Center // 366.1177 Offers steak, seafood, tempura, teriyaki and sushi. Including cooking at your table, if you choose. Sun–Thurs 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. Fri & Sat 5 p.m. - 11 p.m.

El Rincon (2 locations) 1225 University Blvd | Tuscaloosa // 366.0855 1726 McFarland Blvd | Northport // 330.1274

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.

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

ITALIAN

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

Avenue Pub 405 23rd Avenue

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

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

LaGran Fiesta 9770 Hwy 69 S // 345.8871

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

Los Calientes Mexican Grill 3429 McFarland Blvd E // 553.1558 Los Tarascos (2 locations) 1759 Skyland Blvd // 553.8896 3380 McFarland Blvd | Northport // 330.0919 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 Pepito’s (2 locations) 1203 University Blvd | The Strip // 391.9028 1301 McFarland Blvd NE // 391.4861 Taco Mama 2104 A University Blvd, Tuscaloosa 409.8173

FINE DINING Chuck’s Fish 508 Greensboro Ave | Downtown Tuscaloosa // 248.9370 Monday - Thursday 5-10 p.m. and Friday - Saturday 5-11 p.m.

Steak, seafood, & sushi specialities. Daily specials: Monday $20 Bottles of Wine; Tuesday - Ladies Night 1/2 off Domestic Beer and House Wine, Select $5 Martinis, $2 off Select Sushi Rolls for Everyone; Uptown Wednesday - $6 Uptown Shrimp; Featured Cocktails and $20 Bottles of Wine.

Cypress Inn 501 Rice Mine Rd // 345.6963 Fax: 345.6997 | www.cypressinnrestaurant.com 2003 Restaurant of Distinction. Beautiful riverfront location.

Steaks, seafood and more with Southern flavor. Wine list, full bar. Specialities of the house include Shrimp Cypress Inn and Smoked Chicken with white barbecue sauce. Kid friendly. Closed Saturday lunch. Mike Spiller is featured the first

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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 The pub offers a different menu for brunch, lunch, and dinner.

Feature foods include pineapple French toast, pork sliders, and a house burger which changes daily. The drink menu features specialty cocktails, local pints, bottled beer, and wine.

Monday through Friday 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., Saturday Noon – 11 p.m., Sunday 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 Brumfield's Restaurant 4851 Rice Mine Road | Tuesday - Thursday: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m., Friday - Saturday: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m., and Sunday: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Buddy’s Ribs & Steaks 2701 Bridge Ave | Northport // 339.4885

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W here to E at in T uscaloosa ( cont . )

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

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).

Chili’s 1030 Skyland Blvd | Near McFarland Mall // 750.8881 Fax: 758.7715 // www.chilis.com

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.

Dave’s Dogs 1701 McFarland Blvd E | University Mall // 722.2800 Five Guys Burgers & Fries 1800 McFarland Blvd E | Midtown Village // 391.0575 www.fiveguys.com Glory Bound Gyro Company 2325 University Blvd // 349-0505 Glory Bound Gyro Company is a unique restaurant that focuses on great food and service in a funky, fun-filled atmosphere.

Open Mon-Thu: 11am - 10pm | Fri - Sat: 11am-10pm | Sun: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.

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

Horny's 508 Red Drew Ave | Tuscaloosa // 345.6869 Mon 4 p.m. - 2 a.m. | Tues-Thurs 11 a.m. - 2 a.m.

Fri 11 a.m. - 3 a.m. | Sat 4 p.m. - 2 a.m.

New Orleans style atmosphere in the heart of Tuscaloosa on the strip. Horny's offerings include a full liquor bar, beer, and a variety of classic American food. Horny's Bar and Grill offers a limited late night menu from 1:30 a.m. - 2:30 a.m.

Tacogi 500 Greensboro Ave | Downtown Tuscaloosa // 342.3647 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.

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 An express casual dining experience in a refreshing and stylish atmosphere. Serving fresh tossed salads, oven baked sandwiches, California style pizzas and homemade cakes from Newk’s open kitchen. Sun–Wed 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. | Thurs–Sat 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.

O’Charley’s 3799 McFarland Blvd // 556.5143 Open daily for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch www.ocharleys.com Panera Bread 1800 McFarland Blvd E | Midtown Village // 366.8780 www.panerabread.com Piccadilly Cafeteria 1701 McFarland Blvd E | University Mall // 556.4960 www.piccadilly.com Quick Grill 1208 University Blvd | The Strip // 342.0022 www.bamaquickgrill.com 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 Ryan’s 4373 Courtney Dr // 366.1114 Near Marriott Courtyard and Fairfield Inn Sitar Indian Cuisine 500 15th St // 345-1419 Southland Restaurant 5388 Skyland Blvd E // 556.3070 Steaks, chops and home-cooked vegetables Mon–Fri 10:45 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Buffalo Wild Wings 2710 McFarland Blvd. East | Tuscaloosa // 523.0273 Sports grille with TVs galore. Diverse beer and wine selection, full bar

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 Tuscaloosa Burger & Seafood Company 1014 7th Ave. | Tuscaloosa // 764.1976 Over 160 craft beers.

Tue. - Thu 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Fri - Sat 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sun 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Large selection of decadent desserts Wilhagan’s 2209 4th St | Downtown Tuscaloosa // 366.0913 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 9770 Alabama 69; Midtown; and 13544 Hwy 43 North at Rose Blvd. in Northport. Great Texas Barbecue. | 344.6500 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.

Hick’s BBQ 4400 Fayette Hwy // 339.3678 // Tues–Sat 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Moe's Original BBQ 2101 University Blvd.. // 752.3616 Serving up an award-winning, all things Southern BBQ and Live music experience. Come dine-in or sit on the patio and enjoy some great Que, beers, whiskey, and live music on Thursday-Saturday. Roll Tide!

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 Awesome barbecue. The Pottery Grill serves up everything from pork, chicken, ribs and sausage to burgers, hot dogs and salads. Take-out and catering available.

Tee’s Ribs and Thangs 1702 10th Avenue // 366.9974 |11 a.m. - 10 p.m. daily

The Southern Dining Room Grill (Behind Ryan's) 4251 Courtney Dr, Tuscaloosa 331-4043

STEAKS

T-Town Café 500 14th Street, Tuscaloosa | 759-5559 |www.ttowncafe.co Mon - Fri: 5 a.m. - 9 p.m., Sat: 5 a.m. - 3 p.m. Sun: 10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Logan’s Roadhouse 1511 Skyland Blvd | next to Sams // 349.3554 Steaks, ribs and spirits

Tuscaloosa Burger & Seafood Company 1014 7th Ave. | Tuscaloosa // 764.1976 Over 160 craft beers.

Tue. - Thu 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Fri - Sat 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sun 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Large selection of decadent desserts.

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

Zoe’s Kitchen 312 Merchants Walk // 344.4450 A wonderful selection of Greek foods

SPORTS GRILL

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

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

Twin Restaurant 3700 6th Street |Tuscaloosa | 758-7528 A full service restaurant specializing in Sushi, Prime Steaks, made fresh daily pasta, and whiskey oriented cocktails. 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. // Former Tuscaloosa Country Club

Buffalo Phil’s 1149 University Blvd | The Strip // 758.3318 Sports grille with TVs galore. Diverse beer and wine selection, full bar Billy's Sports Grill Historic Downtown Northport / 879.2238 Good food, beverages and family friendly Monday through Wednesday from 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Thursday

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;

SEAFOOD

>>> beer review | B R E T T R E I D

LEFT HAND MILK STOUT // REALLY, REALLY GOOD I’ve found that my tastes and preferences changing a bit over the past few months. Where I would have never drank stouts and porters willingly, I have recently found myself enjoying them more than most IPA style beers. I guess it could have something to do with the fact that I haven’t had an IPA that has really blown me away lately. Don’t get me wrong, I still have my favorites (i.e. Jai Alai, Single Wide, and Good People’s IPA) but everything else I’ve had lately just doesn’t do it for me. I’ve been drinking a lot of stouts and darker beers as I previously mentioned, and I’ve found a lot of beers that are really, really awesome. Currently, I’m a total fan boy for the Left Hand Milk Stout, but there’s a problem, because not many places are carrying it. Plenty of places have the Left Hand Brewing Nitro Milk Stout, but I’m talking about the O.G., plain and simple Left Hand Brewing Company Milk Stout; which is nothing close to plain and simple.

This beer was fantastic and I’m so happy I found it. Here are my thoughts: This beer poured a deep black, typical of most stouts, and had a fluffy, bubbly mocha colored head; about two and a half finger widths. After the head settled, there was nice lacing that gathered around the top of the glass, and was a great indication that there would be a ton of lacing as I drank. After pouring, I did my usual waft and sniff, and I picked up on a TON of sweet cream. When I say sweet cream, I am referring to the smell of half and half.

You could tell from the scent alone that there was going to be a great creamy flavor. Aside from the powerful punch of half and half, you get some coffee scents and maybe even some toffee. This beer, on scent alone, ranks up there with the Maduro from Cigar City Brewing; I could smell both of these all day long.

Taste follows nose for the most part, and that was welcomed. Spearheaded by a faint chocolate flavor, this beer is really one of the most balanced stouts I have ever experienced. As you continue to drink, you get a lot of the creaminess that you picked up on from the nose. There is a slight flavor of some toasted elements that add to the wide array of depths that the beer has. The roasted malt adds a nice slight bitterness, but there are isn’t a strong hop presence. Toward the end, you get some coffee flavors and a little more vanilla that culminates in a dry finish. The dry finish gives a slight false sense of sessional aspects, but that is NOT true. This beer, while very tasty, is very heavy, and very filling. It’s a great dessert beer if this is all you’re going to have for dessert. The flavor is exactly what I wanted it to be.

When I see milk stout, I expect a level of creaminess that almost masks the bitterness and a level of sweetness to make it really

enjoyable; much like I’m not even drinking a beer.

The mouthfeel was the perfect accent to this brew. The beer has a thick mouthfeel, like syrup; settles really heavy in your mouth and stomach as well.

The carbonation level could have been a little higher because it was a little flat, and after sitting out for a bit, it was almost completely flat which was a bit disappointing.

If you’ve read this column before, you know that I’m a stickler for carbonation levels, and this is probably the only time I will ever complain about carbonation being too low. Just something that I was thinking of and wish it was a little different. As it settled on the tongue, the flavors get stronger and stronger; you can really pick apart the different elements and layers of flavors. Overall, it’s really silky, really smooth, and really, really good.

Overall, this has been one of the best stouts I’ve had in a while and Left Hand Brewing seems to be known for their darker beers rather than anything else as far as I can tell. The perfectly executed Left Hand Milk Stout builds its body on complementary layers and flavors. The velvety mouthfeel is what did this one for me; along with the quintessential sweetness and chocolate notes that were ever-present. I’m so glad I stumbled upon this brew and I’m glad I know where I can get it now. This definitely won’t be the last time I pick this one up. If you’re not a fan of sweeter dark beers, this one will make a believer out of you. Trust me.

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SEPTEMBER 18 + OCTOBER 2

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>>> R A M R E S C U E | C O N T ' D F R O M P A G E 9 was communicating.

Once they’d gotten the ram back to Shamballa, the day they picked him up, his legs had to be tied in order to access the knotted wool against his raw and irritated skin. It had taken them an additional six hours to finally finish that job, the Russes said. His ribs poked too prominently through his skin once the fleece was trimmed away, and his belly was swollen with worms—more evidence of the neglect he’d endured.

It was clear that he’d never been shorn. Some speculated that he been roaming wild for a while. But the wet brown wool on his legs and belly seemed to indicate he’d been penned in some unhealthy barnyard-like setting, standing leg-deep in his waste, and perhaps that of others. John Russ examined his hooves and noted the lack of nicks and cracks, supporting the penned-in-barnyard theory.

“Maybe he was a 4-H project gone bad,” speculated Mr. Russ.

The sheep had clearly bonded with humans, but his care had been full of life-threatening neJohn and April Russ from Shamballa Wildlife Rescue secure Stewy for the short 20-minute drive to greener glect—a cute, lovable lamb that had grown into an overlooked pastures. ram. The Russes were reversfecal-infested fleece away: “A bit unusual ing those conditions, deworming him and for us to take in a farm type animal but feeding his ever-hungry appetite. this little guy came in wandering in a yard As April scratched Stewy’s back, his near Grant a couple of days ago and he now freed and visible tail wagged wildly was so sweet and so friendly. …It killed us in celebration. We would never know the to think that this animal was covered with place from which Stewy had come, but we layers and layers of rotting wool during know where he is now. And that is good; the Alabama summer! For the first time very, very good. in probably a couple of years, he is finally able to wiggle his tail and his poop finally falls to ground!”

They sent us pictures and we posted the updates. The online followers posted messages of cheer and support as pictures of a cleanly shorn “Stewy”, as he was now named, appeared. One could only imagine the freedom he felt minus the tens of pounds of wool.

The Russes sent an update along with pictures of the completely shorn ram.

More cheers went up from the online crowd, many based in Tuscaloosa where we had lived until two years before.

The author and her husband revisited “This story brought tears to my eyes.

Stewy a week after his being adopted by I am so happy for this sweet animal. the Russes.

Just imagine how much better he feels!!” wrote Sandra Wolfe, Executive Director of the Tuscaloosa Arts Council.

One week after the ram’s adoption by the Russes at Shamballa, we went to visit. While we were being given a tour of their operation, Stewy bleated to us from the pasture. We joined him. As I squatted down he nuzzled my hand and leaned his head in close; I stroked the humped bridge of his nose.

When my petting motions slowed, he bent his head further and lightly butted April Russ, with her new family member, Stewy. my hand. “Don’t stop,” he and spoke perfect English with a charming foreign accent.

They’d arrived with a snug carrier and we were able to coax and guide the frightened yet somehow trusting ram inside and lift the crate into the bed of their small truck in order to continue his journey into the next phase of his life.

Wherever and whatever his life of neglect had been, he’d broken free and mysteriously made his way to us. And now to Shamballa, where they, too, posted about his arrival at their sanctuary and spent another six hours shearing the rest of his

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SEPTEMBER 18 + OCTOBER 2

>>> RESTAURANTS |

W here t o E a t i n T u s c a l o o s a ( c o n t . )

Featured Cocktails and $20 Bottles of Wine.

6521 Alabama 69 | 752.5444

Red Lobster 2620 McFarland Blvd // 553.8810 McFarland Plaza Shopping Center

Tut’s Place 1306 University Blvd | The Strip // 759.1004

Tin Top Restaurant & Oyster Bar 4851 Rice Mine Rd NE #460 // 462.3399 McFarland Plaza Shopping Center & Temerson Square Tuscaloosa Burger & Seafood Company 1014 7th Ave. | Tuscaloosa // 764.1976 Over 160 craft beers.

Tue. - Thu 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Fri - Sat 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sun 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Large selection of decadent desserts.

Wintzell’s Oyster House 1 Bridge Ave | Northport // 247.7772 Casual riverfront dining Sun–Thurs 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. | Fri–Sat 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.

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

DELICATESSEN

Honeybaked Ham Company 421 15th St. E // 345.5508 www.honeybaked.com Jason’s Deli 2300 McFarland Blvd // 752.6192 Fax: 752.6193 // www.jasonsdeli.com Located in the Meadowbrook Shopping Center.

Jimmy John’s (3 locations) 1400 University Blvd | The Strip // 366.3699 1875 McFarland Blvd N | Northport // 752.7714 815 Lurleen B. Wallace S | Tuscaloosa // 722.2268 Delivery 7 days a week. www.jimmyjohns.com Manna Grocery & Deli 2300 McFarland Blvd E | Tuscaloosa // 752.9955 McAlister’s Deli (2 locations) 101 15th St | Tuscaloosa // 758.0039 3021 Tyler Dr | Northport // 330.7940 Sandwiches, salads and spuds www.mcalistersdeli.com

China Garden Hwy 69 S | Hillcrest Center // 758.0148

Momma Goldberg’s Deli 409 23rd Ave // 345.5501 www.mommagoldbergs.com

Hot Wok Express 6751 Alabama 69, Tuscaloosa // 758.0148

Newk's 205 University Blvd E | Tuscaloosa // 758.2455

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

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

Which Wich University Blvd.// Downtown Tuscaloosa // Mon – Sat 10:30 – 9 // Sunday 11 – 7 // Fun atmosphere,fresh ingredients, great sandwiches. 764.1673

Pearl Garden 2719 Lurleen Wallace Blvd | Northport // 339.0880

COFFEE SHOP

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.

Barnes & Noble 1800 McFarland Blvd E | Tuscaloosa 349.6366

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

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

PIZZA AND SUBS A Taste Of Chicago 1700 Greensboro Avenue 205-342-DOGS Mon. - Thurs. 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Fri. - Sat. 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.

17th Street and Greensboro Avenue. Authentic Chicago style foods. Italian Beef Sandwiches, Chicago Rib Tips, and Chicago Style Pizza.

California Underground 13552 Highway 43, Northport | 339.8660 Firehouse Subs 1130 University Blvd | Tuscaloosa // 248.0680 Hungry Howie’s (2 locations) 1105 Southview Ln | South Tuscaloosa // 345.6000 1844 McFarland Blvd | Northport // 333.2633 1211 University Blvd | Tuscaloosa | The Strip // 366.1500 4851 Rice Mine Rd | Northriver/Holt // 345.3737 Lenny’s Sub Shop 220 15th St // 752.7450 Fax: 752.7481 // www.lennys.com Little Caesars Pizza 1414 10th Ave // 366.2220 | 1www.littlecaesars.com Little Italy 1130 University Blvd. // 345.4354 Mellow Mushroom 2230 University Blvd | Downtown Tuscaloosa // 758.0112 Subs n' You 2427 University Blvd. | Tuscaloosa // 205.758.0088 Roly Poly Sandwiches 2300 4th Street | Tuscaloosa // 366.1222 The Pita Pit 1207 University Blvd | The Strip // 345.9606 Hours: Mon–Sat 10:30 a.m. - 3 a.m. | Sun 11:30 a.m. - midnight Pizza 120 50115th St. East | 561.6853 Pizza Palace Buffet

Chloe's Cup 2117 University Blvd.| Tuscaloosa // 764.0218 Crimson Cafe International Coffee House & Gourmet Deli 1301 University Blvd | The Strip // 750.0203 Mon–Fri 7 a.m. - 11 p.m. | Sat & Sun 8 a.m. - 11 p.m. thecrimsoncafe.com Five Java Coffee, fresh juices, smoothies and treats from Mary's Cakes.

Open Monday - Saturday at 7am; 9am on Sundays Heritage House 18 McFarland Blvd | Northport // 758.0042 Krispy Kreme Doughnut 1400 McFarland Blvd // 758.6913 www.krispykreme.com Starbucks (2 locations) 1800 McFarland Blvd E | Midtown Village // 343.2468 1901 13th Ave East | inside Super Target // 462.1064 starbucks.com

DESSERTS Celebrations Bakery, Inc. 1832 McFarland Blvd N | Northport // 339.3221 Fax: 349.1945 Cold Stone Creamery 1130 University Blvd. | Tuscaloosa //343.1670 Specializes in customized ice cream Hours: Mon–Thurs 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. | Fri & Sat 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Sun 12 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Dunkin' Donuts 2520 Stillman Blvd. |Tuscaloosa// 349.3400 McCorvey Dr. | Tuscaloosa // 348.4041 www.dunkindonuts.com Mary's Cakes & Pastries 412 22nd Avenue | behind Opus | Northport // 345.8610 www.maryscakesandpastries.com Mon–Fri 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. | Sat 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Smoothie King (2 locations) 415 15th Street | Tuscaloosa // 349.1721 Fax: 349.1945 1403 University Blvd | Tuscaloosa // 462.3664 Sweet CeCe's Frozen yogurt Treats 2217 University Blvd. | Downtown Tuscaloosa // 561.6458 A fun and friendly make your own creation, yogurt experience!

TCBY (3 Locations) 2304 Mcfarland Blbd | Meadowbrook Shopping Center // 349.4661 // 2 Mcfarland Blvd | Northport | Essex Shopping Center // 758.6855 // 1130 Univ. Blvd. | The Strip // 345.0804 Yogurt In Love Patriot Center 7402 Highway 69 South Phone Number: 764.9173 Fax Number: 764.9228 Monday-Thursday 11 a.m. - 9 p.m., Friday & Saturday 11 a.m.-10 pm.

Yogurt Lab 920 Paul W. Bryant Dr Ste 200 | Tuscaloosa // 347.9522 Yogurt Mountain 1800 McFarland Blvd E | Midtown Village // 342.1484

>>> PLANETWEEKLY • tuscaloosa's SOURCE for entertainment, music, sports & THE ARTS

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

"AS ABOVE, SO BELOW" // CAST GIVES IT THEIR BEST SHOT, BUT... ✭✭ 1

“Quarantine” director John Erick Dowdle conjures up plenty of spooky atmosphere but delivers only a paucity of thrills in his half-baked, found-footage chiller “As Above, So Below” about a group of cataphiles who plunge into the catacombs of Paris to exhume a Medieval relic known as the Philosopher’s Stone.

Initially, this low-budget but polished looking thriller must have appeared promising on paper: a plucky Laura Croft heroine, who knows six languages and holds a black belt in Capoeira, persuades a motley crew to crawl through the claustrophobic confines of the dead for a treasure worthy of an Indiana Jones escapade.

Unfortunately, Dowdle and his coscenarist brother Drew Dowdle don’t stock their storyline with a sufficient number of screams. Once the novelty value of the catacombs as an eerie setting wears off, the brothers Dowdle resort to standardissue shenanigans that generate no whiteknuckled terror. Naturally, claustrophobia takes a toll on our heroes. Each ends up hallucinating about a tragic event from the past, and some find themselves in circumstances best described as surreal. Not only does one spelunker see a younger brother who he couldn’t save from drowning, but also he finds a mysterious piano that reminds him of one from his youth that needed a tune-up.

Simply said, “As Above, So Below” won’t scare the catacombs out of you. Nevertheless, Dowdle does a good job of setting up suspense, but few of his alarming antics will send you screaming for the exits. Sure, you may feel a shiver scuttle up your spine, but you won’t cut loose with blood-curdling screams unless you’ve never seen a horror movie. The blood and gore content isn’t nearly as gruesome as it could have been for an R-rated chiller. The attractive twentysomething cast gives it their best shot, but the outcome seems fairly anti-climactic.

Although she has multiple doctorates, Scarlett Marlowe (Perdita Weeks of “Hamlet”) qualifies more as a tomb raider. She is the kind of girl who doesn’t squeal at the sight of rats and spiders. In a suspenseful opening sequence, she enters Iran disguised as a native to obtain pictures of a giant stone bull that serves as a Rosetta Stone of sorts to interpret alchemic inscriptions prominently featured in the work of her late father. Basically, Scarlett is pursuing the same research that her father embarked on before he felt suicide was the best hope for his unhinged mind. He had devoted his entire life to the search for the fabled Philosopher's Stone. According to legend, this extraordinary stone could heal wounds as well as convert base metals into gold. Scarlett narrowly avoids death in Iran when the authorities blow up the tunnels where she is snapping pictures of those exotic inscriptions. Later, Scarlett convinces one of her former boyfriends, George (“Mad Men’s” Ben Feldman), who has just repaired an ancient cathedral church bell that hasn’t tolled for 200 years, to accompany her on her elusive quest.

Actually, Scarlett needs George because he knows a language that she doesn’t. Moreover, George can get her into a museum during after-hours that houses an obscure artifact about medievalera Parisian Nicolas Flamel who figures prominently in her research. What Scarlett learns from that museum piece that she desecrates without a qualm confirms our Tomb Raider mistress’s suspicions.

At first, an incredulous George refuses to follow Scarlett into the bowels of Paris in what amounts to a hair-raising colonoscopy. Since credibility is essential to her outlandish venture, Scarlett invites Benji (Edwin Hodge of “Red Dawn”) to record her historic expedition. After she arrives in Paris, Scarlett enlists three quirky

guides, a charismatic graffiti artist named Papillon (Francois Civil of “Molière”), his girlfriend Souxie (newcomer Marion Lambert), and a professional climber Zed (Ali Marhyar of “Zero Dark Thirty”), to not only get them into the forbidden catacombs but also keep them from getting lost. It should come as no surprise that Papillion succeeds splendidly in the first respect but fails miserably in the second. While Benji carries the camera, he has designed headbands equipped with micro-cams for the team to photograph everything from a variety of perspectives. This clever gimmick enables director John Erick Dowdle to show us various points-of-view from the participants so as to heighten the conflict.

Obviously, if you suffer from claustrophobia, watching this marginally entertaining chiller may prove to be a genuine challenge. Furthermore, French lenser Léo Hinstin’s epileptic, hand-held camera work may have you scrambling for Dramamine.

“As Above, So Below” is about as close as anybody will want to come to prowling the labyrinth of Parisian catacombs that contain the remains of some six million skeletons. As it turns out, Scarlett and her scavengers aren’t the only intruders lurking in those passageways. Women wearing

1/2

ou t of 4

too much mascara and not enough apparel stand around and chant; a lanky dude long rumored dead reappears; a hooded character in a priest’s robe skulks about, and petrified skulls protruding from walls transform into ghastly ghouls with an appetite for blood. None of them are scary enough to raise your hackles. Predictably, the Dowdle brothers stage several cave-ins and send our heroes into smelly drainage canals that connect the catacombs. All of this squirming about seems frightfully compelling as our heroes wriggle from one gritty crevice into another and struggle to decode hieroglyphics about alchemy.

Inevitably, they have to contend with deadly booby traps that their predecessors concocted to discourage this kind of quest.

Eventually, Scarlett and company stumble onto a doorway with the familiar Dantesque inscription “Abandon hope all ye who enter here.” Anybody who winds up watching this lackluster chiller would do well to remember those sage words. Comparably, “As Above, So Below” isn’t a tenth as terrifying as “The Descent” (2005), a thriller about a group of women trapped in a cave.

Instead, “As Above, So Below” stinks as badly as the 2011 underwater cave thriller “Sanctum.”

>>> PLANETWEEKLY • tuscaloosa's SOURCE for entertainment, music, sports & THE ARTS

BACKROAD ANTHEM SEPTEMBER 18 + OCTOBER 2

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>>> I N M E M O R I U M | B E R T P A U L S E N

A TRIBUTE IN PASSING Social media in West Alabama was abuzz this week with the surprising news of the passing of local artist, illustrator, sculptor, collector, papermaker, printer and professor emeritus in the University of Alabama’s Book Arts Program, Glenn House Sr. He died on Sunday, September 14, after being infected with the West Nile Virus.

House was 83.

After retiring from UA in 1991 he went on to found— along with his wife, photographer and artist Kathleen Fetters—the Crossroads Arts Alliance, a collective of artist studios in Gordo, his Pickens County hometown.

As an artist, he became especially known as the designer of the iconic Moon Winx Lodge neon sign, when he had just graduated from college in the early fifties.

As a professor in the Book Arts Program at UA he developed Kozo papermaking using the bark of the indigenous mulberry tree. But there was something beyond his art that made Glenn House stand out in the community: his personality, his spirit, his generosity and kindness. He didn’t know a stranger, some said.

The outpouring of tributes began as soon as his sudden death was announced and has continued. Person after

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person posted pictures of themselves with House, quoted him, shared favorite memories or pictures of him or one of his sculptured faces hanging on their walls.

He had touched so very, very many.

He was the best of the Deep South, the very essence of the “magic” at its core.

No doubt he is aware, pleased and humbled by the outpouring of adoration— to know the value that his art and his goodness had to those carrying on in his stead.

>>> A R T | K E V I N L E D G E W O O D

EXHIBIT // "THE LAST BRUSH OF KUSH"

An exhibit by Northport artist Jennifer Hamner will be hosted by The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa at the Bama Theatre’s Junior League Gallery during October. Titled “The Last Brush of Kush,” it will be composed of seven large format paintings and will be on display Oct. 3 – 31.

A reception open to the public will be held at the gallery on Oct. 10 from 6:30 – 8 p.m.

Hamner describes “The Last Brush of Kush” as a series of seven paintings representing the seven days of Creation.

The title for this series was chosen because Kush is an ancient African Kingdom that is now known as the modern regions of Aswan, Egypt and Khartoum, Sudan. Art and architecture flourished in this ancient kingdom and presently these areas, particularly Sudan, are known for art. Sudan has a long history of Christianity, but today Christians account for only a very small portion of the predominantly Islamic stronghold. Years of civil unrest have driven Christians and artists in Sudan and surrounding areas into secrecy. Many Christian artists have developed a cultural and religious underground in order to remain safe as they spread their beliefs.

Their paintings or other works of art symbolize events or stories in the Bible. Many artists know that if their attempts to spread their message through their art are discovered by extremists, they could be killed.

Each painting is approx. 48" wide x 48" high x 2" thick. The pieces, comprised mainly of design elements, are colorful and have somewhat of an African flair. Once “The Last Brush of Kush” is completed, the paintings will be donated to The Genesis

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Mission Home, a branch of Mission Teens.

“This series was my attempt to share the story of creation by paintings alone.

There are no words on the paintings, just beautiful, vibrant pictures of the unfolding of life,” stated Ms. Hamner.

Jennifer R. Hamner (a.k.a J. M. Rubino) resides in Northport, Ala. with her two daughters, Marisa and Salena, and their two rescued dogs, Maggie and Wally. She enjoys writing and currently contributes monthly for “SAVED News” and quarterly for “Faith Filled Family Magazine.” Prior to writing for these publications, she was a monthly contributing author for “Knitted Together by God.” She is an active author at Faitherwriters.com where she participates in their weekly Writing Challenge. Two of her weekly pieces recently earned her the Editor’s Choice Award and will be published in two separate “Mixed Blessings” books by Breath of Fresh Air Press. Her first novel, “The Route,” was released on Memorial Day, 2014. The profits earned from the novel benefit The Find HOPE Here Project, a Christian nonprofit organization she founded. Hamner is an active speaker in Tuscaloosa and the surrounding counties for agencies and organizations such as Celebrate Recovery, A Woman’s Place and The Phoenix House. She also enjoys painting, recently completing and donating five acrylic works to The Braydon House in Tuscaloosa.

Gallery hours are weekdays from 9 a.m. – noon, and 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. and during Bama Theatre events. Enter the gallery through the PARA Building, adjacent to the Bama, during daytime hours.

>>> A R T | K E V I N L E D G E W O O D

EXHIBIT // "THE 'B' SIDE"

“The 'B' Side” group exhibit will be hosted by The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center during October.

The display, composed of works by 13 Tuscaloosa, Birmingham and Nashville artists, will open with a reception on Oct. 3 from 6 – 10 p.m. during First Friday and will conclude on Oct. 31, 2014. Two musical groups, The Infinite Monkey Typing Pool and the Alabama Blues Project, will be performing during the opening reception.

The subject matter in this second annual B Side exhibit will be composed of artists' visual music-themed interpretations, covering all genres from country to rock and jazz. Tony Brock, B Side Art Show originator and organizer, asked each artist to produce at least two pieces of art of their choice and style, interpreting songs, designing faux album covers, painting portraits of musicians or anything music-related.

The title of the exhibit originated with the B Side, or flip side of vinyl albums and 45s. At times the B Side was an undiscovered gem, with little airplay but a good alternative to the more mainstream. The B Side art show provides an art alternative in the visual sense.

Artists whose works will be included in the exhibit are JenX, Tony Brock, Chris Davenport, Tony Bratina, Tony Tavis, Anjeanette Illustration, A.L. Swartz, Shweta Gamble,

Bruce D. Andrews, Jeff Bertrand, Tingler, Joe Rossomano, and Charles V. Bennett.

Gallery hours are weekdays from 9 a.m. – 12 noon and 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Admission is free.

The Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center is located at 620 Greensboro Avenue in Downtown Tuscaloosa. For more information about the CAC, Call 7585195 or visit cac.tuscarts.org for further information.

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SEPTEMBER 18 + OCTOBER 2

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>>> EVENTS CALENDAR |

THE SOUTHEAST'S LARGEST

NOTE: All events listed here have phone numbers in the 205 area code unless otherwise indicated.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 ALABAMA NATIONAL JURIED EXHIBITION WHEN: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

COST: Free WHERE: 405 McCorvey Drive PHONE: 348.5967 LINK: art.ua.edu DESCRIPTION: Alabama native Robert Sherer, an internationally known artist, judges and selects the finest work for the first annual Alabama National. Enjoy the work of more than 25 artists at the SellaGranata Gallery.

IN DEFENSE OF IDEALS WHEN: 7:30 p.m.

COST: Free WHERE: 711 Capstone Dr. PHONE: 348.9748 LINK: lib.ua.edu DESCRIPTION: Author and acclaimed essayist Mark Edmundson will present, “In Defense of Ideals,” discussing courage, contemplation, compassion and purpose. The lecture is presented by the UA chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest and most prestigious Greek-letter society in the country, as part of the Allen Going Lecture series.

HOMEGROWN ALABAMA FARMER’S MARKET WHEN: 3 – 6 p.m.

COST: Prices vary WHERE: 812 5th Ave PHONE: 210.9621 LINK: homegrownalabama.ua.edu DESCRIPTION: Support local farmers and treat yourself to freshest produce.

Homegrown Alabama invites you to the lawn of the Canterbury Episcopal Church every Thursday through October.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19

INTERNATIONAL COFFEE HOUR WHEN: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

COST: Free WHERE: 400 McCorvey Dr PHONE: 348.5402 LINK: is.ua.edu DESCRIPTION: Come enjoy coffee, tea snacks and conversation with people from around the world. Expand your worldview or become more acquainted with the University of Alabama campus at B.B. Comer Hall, hosted by Capstone International Services.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 MASTER SERIES: AMERICAN STRING QUARTET WHEN: 3:30 – 5 p.m.

COST: $10, Seniors $5, Student $3 WHERE: 810 2nd Ave PHONE: 348.7111 LINK: americanstringquartet.com DESCRIPTION: The esteemed quartet of Peter Winograd, Laurie Carney, Daniel Avshalomov and Wolfram Koessel is known for its mastery of Beethoven, Schubert, Schoenberg, Bartok and Mozart, and they are bringing their music to the Moody Music Building Concert Hall.

Classical enthusiasts will not want to miss this performance of the highest caliber-

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SEPTEMBER 18 + OCTOBER 2

WILLIAM C GORGAS AND THE PANAMA CANAL WHEN: 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

COST: Free WHERE: 810 Capstone Dr PHONE: 348.5906 LINK: lib.ua.edu DESCRIPTION: One hundred years ago the Panama Canal opened after the sanitation work of army physician William Gorgas made its construction possible.

This exhibit at the Gorgas House Museum features Gorgas family collections as well as Panama Canal memorabilia. Visit before it closes on Sept 26.

YOGA THERAPY WHEN: 4 – 4:45 p.m.

COST: $9 WHERE: 2200 Rock Quarry Dr PHONE: 562.3230 LINK: tcpara.org DESCRIPTION: This class is for anyone with MS, back conditions, arthritis, senior adults or beginners who would like to take an adapted (gentle) yoga course. You may use a chair during this session. Drop-in any Monday at the Phelps Center.

WEST ALABAMA MOUNTAIN BIKING ASSOCIATION WEEKLY BEGINNER’S RIDE WHEN: 5:45 p.m.

COST: Free WHERE: Monny Sokal Park PHONE: 562.3220 LINK: wambarides.org DESCRIPTION: Interested in mountain biking but don't know where to ride in Tuscaloosa? Come out to Sokal Park and join the beginners' group that ride out weekly on Monday evenings.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 ALABAMA REPERTORY DANCE THEATRE WHEN: 7:30 – 9:30 p.m.

COST: $20, senior $17, student $14 WHERE: 428 Colonial Drive PHONE: 348.3400 LINK: theatre.ua.edu DESCRIPTION: ARDT returns to Morgan Auditorium with an all-new concert, choreographed by UA’s award-winning dance faculty. This concert offers a diverse mix of traditional and innovative pieces highlighting the talented students of the UA dance program. Catch the performance Sept 23 through 26.

ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE IN AMERICAN RELIGIONS WHEN: 7 – 9 p.m.

COST: Free WHERE: 711 Capstone Dr. PHONE: 348.5271 LINK: rel.as.ua.edu DESCRIPTION: As part of the Zachary Daniel Day lecture series, Dr. Kelly J. Baker presents “They’re coming to get you Barbara!”: Zombie Apocalypses in American Religions at the Gorgas Library.

>>> PET PLANET | T H I S M O N T H ' S P E T S

SKIPPER AND JERRY // WHO GETS TO MAKE A HOME FOR THEM?

It's clear sailing with this Skipper at your side! This is Skipper, a handsome 8–9 month old male Retriever/Setter mix. He has a thick white coat with black spots and markings like a setter but the build of a retriever. Skipper will be a large dog since he already weighs 32 pounds. He will probably get to around 60 or so when he is full grown. Skipper is very friendly and loving. He does have a lot of energy, so he will need lots of play time and exercise. He is still a BIG PUPPY so he will require training and structure to help him develop into a well-mannered adult dog.

Skipper will require a fenced-in yard. He seems to do well with other dogs and should be fine with children 12 and up (still a bit jumpy!). We have started his crate training. Skipper is up to date on his vet care, heartworm negative, neutered and is micro chipped. He is on heartworm and flea/tick prevention. What a wonderful dog – who will be the lucky owner that gets to take him home?! If you are interested in giving Skipper the forever home he wants and deserves, visit the Humane Society of West Alabama at humanesocietyofwa.org or call us at 554-0011.

This sweet little guy is Jerry, a short-haired male tuxedo kitten with a good bit of white in his coat and really unusual "tuxedo jacket" coat pattern. He is such a handsome boy!

Jerry is approximately 5 months old and is a happy boy! He is playful and fun-loving! Jerry does well with other friendly kittens.

He would do okay with children who can handle him gently. Jerry is negative for FIV and FeLK and current on first round vaccinations. The next and final round for the year (which includes Rabies vaccination) is due three weeks after the previous round.

Due to being underage for a spay/neuter surgery, adoption requires an additional refundable spay/neuter deposit to reinforce state requirements for all adopted pets to be fixed by age of maturity. If you are interested in giving Jerry the forever home he wants and deserves visit the Humane Society of West Alabama at www.humanesocietyofwa.org or call us at 554-0011.

Join the Humane Society of West Alabama for an adoption event in front of Pet Supplies Plus Sunday, September 21, between 1-4pm.

You will get a chance to meet some of the dogs available for adoption, speak with our volunteers, and find out more about adopting a pet from the Humane Society. We hope to see you there!

LADIES’ DOUBLES TENNIS TOURNAMENT WHEN: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

COST: $160 per team WHERE: 1650 McFarland Blvd

>>> PLANETWEEKLY • tuscaloosa's SOURCE for entertainment, music, sports & THE ARTS

>>> T H E A T R E | A M E L I A W E B B E R

HANDS ON A HARDBODY // PREMIERE Theatre Tuscaloosa presAlabama premiere of Hands on a Hardbody Sept.

26 – Oct. 5 in the Bean-Brown Theatre on Shelton State’s Martin Campus.

Written by Doug Wright, with lyrics by Amanda Green and music by Green and Trey Anastasio (member of the GRAMMY®nominated band Phish), Hands on a Hardbody is based on the documentary film by S. R. Bindler and Kevin Morris. This new musical tells the story of ten hard-luck Texans who believe a new lease on life is so close they can touch it. Under a scorching sun for days on end, armed with nothing but hope, humor and ambition, they’ll fight to keep at least one hand on a brand-new truck in order to win it. In the hilarious, hard fought contest that is Hands on a Hardbody, only one winner can drive away with the American Dream.

This musical comedy contains strong language and mild adult themes and may not be suitable working with them now." for ages 12 and under; parental Flacco, who plays a character named discretion is advised.

Kelli Mangrum, said she believes audiHands on a Hardbody is directed by ences will be thoroughly entertained by Theatre Tuscaloosa Executive Producer Hands on a Hardbody.

Tina Turley.

"It's a show that will make you laugh “We are so excited to be the first theatre and break your heart at the same time," company to produce Hands on a Hardbody she said. in Alabama,” Turley said. “Our audiences Theatre Tuscaloosa’s 2014-15 Season: will fall in love with the down-home characTo Life! is presented in cooperation with ters, and they will be singing the songs long Shelton State Community College and after they leave the theatre.” is sponsored by JamisonMoneyFarmer Working alongside Turley is a talented PC. Hands on a Hardbody is sponsored production team including Leslie Poss,

by Afflink, Buffalo Rock, Left Hand Soap Musical Director; Beth Key Patrick, ChoCompany and TownSquare Media Group. reographer; Wheeler Kincaid, Technical Additional season sponsors include AlaDirector and Scenic Designer; Jeanette bamaOne Credit Union, Warrior Roofing Waterman, Costume Designer; David Manufacturing Co., TotalCom Marketing, Jones, Lighting Designer; Frank Duren, Mercedes-Benz, f8 Productions, SouthSound Designer; and Ashlyn Lambert, land Benefit Solutions, Ameriprise FinanStage Manager. cial and Bank of Tuscaloosa.

The cast of Hands on a Hardbody Hands on a Hardbody will be presentincludes Justin Barnett, Sarah Kathryn ed Sept. 26 — Oct. 5 in the Bean-Brown Bonds, Clifton Daniels, Carol DeVelice, Craig First, Jamie Lynn Flacco, Ben Miller, Theatre on Shelton State Community College’s Martin Campus, 9500 Old GreensDanielle K. Molina, Jenny Ryan, Danny boro Road. Performances will take place Salter, Andrew Smith, Logan Spradley, Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30pm and George Thagard, Ernie Turley and Laura Sundays and Wednesday at 2pm. All proWhite. ceeds of a pay-what-you-can final dress New to Tuscaloosa and to the Beanrehearsal on Thursday, Sept. 25, at 7:30 Brown Stage, cast member Jamie Lynn pm, will benefit the Charlie Dennis MemoFlacco said she has enjoyed working with rial Scholarship Fund.

Theatre Tuscaloosa and becoming a part Tickets are $22 for adults, $18 for of this 'talented and caring' community. seniors (60+) and $14 for students and "This is my first show with Theatre children. Special rates are available for Tuscaloosa. I moved to Alabama about a groups of 10 or more. Season subscripyear ago and got to perform in two shows tions, which can save patrons 15 percent with Birmingham Children’s Theatre on single ticket purchases, are still availlast season," Flacco said. "After seeing able for a limited time.

Hairspray this summer, I really wanted to For more information about the 2014find an opportunity to work with Theatre 15 season to purchase tickets visit Tuscaloosa. Fortunately, I was a good Jimmy Welborn,or"Mr. Piggly Wiggly" www.theatretusc.com or call 391.2277. fit for Hands on Hardbody and here I am

ents the

>>> EVENTS CALENDAR | PHONE: 657.8799 LINK: thedchfoundation.org DESCRIPTION: The DCH Foundation is hosting the third annual A Day on the Courts, a ladies' doubles tennis tournament. Proceeds benefit The DCH Foundation's Breast Cancer Fund, which supports The DCH Health System's ability to offer breast screenings and further assistance if needed to the uninsured and underinsured women of our West Alabama Community. Breakfast and lunch will be served. Each player will receive a premium gift for participating!

BAMA ART HOUSE // "FRANK" WHEN: 7:30 p.m.

COST: -$7, general admission -$6, students and seniors -$5, Arts Council members WHERE: Bama Theatre PHONE: 758.5195 LINK; bamatheatre.org/bamaarthouse DESCRIPTION: The Bama Art House will show the film "Frank," starring Michael Fassbaender, Maggie Gyllenhall, Domhnail Gleeson.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 AMERICAN VETERANS TRAVELING TRIBUTE WHEN: 12 – 5 p.m.

COST: Free WHERE: 620 Greensboro PHONE: 758.5195 LINK: cac.tuscarts.org DESCRIPTION: The mission of the project is to travel the nation to honor, respect, and remember men and women who served, and to pay specific tribute to those who gave all in that service. Visit the Cultural Arts Center to see several Cost of Freedom memorials and the Traveling Wall, a 50 percent scale version of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. Open through Saturday.

A FINANCIAL GUIDE FOR WOMEN WHEN: 9 – 10 a.m.

COST: Free WHERE: 801 University Blvd PHONE: 348.9700 LINK: uahr.skillport.com DESCRIPTION: Charting Your Course: A Financial Guide for Women is for women who need help maximizing savings opportunities and who want to get to solid financial ground and those who need assistance planning for their own complex situations and long-term planning. Go online to register.

HATHA YOGA WHEN: 6 – 7:10 p.m.

COST: $9 WHERE: 2200 Rock Quarry Dr PHONE: 562.3230 LINK: tcpara.org DESCRIPTION: Learn relaxation techniques while increase your strength and flexibility. New classes begin every month.

Bring your yoga mat any Tuesday or Thursday and join us for some calming exercise.

THE SOUTHEAST'S LARGEST

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

OPERA GUILD GUSTATORY GALA WHEN: 7 – 9:30 p.m.

COST: $75 WHERE: 427 6th Ave NE PHONE: Go online for details LINK: uaoperaguild.org DESCRIPTION: The Opera Guild presents a delectable fundraising event called “Music and Food from Around the World; A Gustatory Gala.” Enjoy the guild’s fine performance and a taste of global cuisine on the second floor of the University of Alabama Museum of Natural History. Go to the Opera Guild website to purchase your tickets.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27

TUSCALOOSA COMMUNITY WALK TO STOP DIABETES WHEN: 9 a.m..

COST: Free WHERE: 1 Greensboro Ave PHONE: 562.3220 LINK: main.diabetes.org/goto/tuscaloosawalk DESCRIPTION: Join the American Diabetes Association in the fight to Stop Diabetes by registering for the 2014 Tuscaloosa Community Walk to Stop Diabetes, at Bama Belle Park. The 5k walk starts from the Tuscaloosa Riverwalk area and goes downtown and back. Each participant is asked to raise a minimum of $25 in honor of the 25 people who die every hour from diabetes.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 THE DINING ROOM WHEN: 7:30 p.m – 12 a.m.

COST: $10 WHERE: Rowand Johnson Hall, Stadium Dr PHONE: 348.3800 LINK: theatre.ua.edu DESCRIPTION: A highly acclaimed play featuring six actors in over 50 roles. The New York Times called it “an overlapping and amusing anthology of vignettes about family and food, inherited and disowned values.” See the talents of University of Alabama’s finest actors at Allen Bales Theatre Monday through Friday at 7:30 p.m. or Friday at 2 p.m.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2

KENTUCK ART NIGHT WHEN: 5 – 8 p.m.

COST: Free WHERE: 503 Main Ave, Northport PHONE: 758.1257 LINK: kentuck.org DESCRIPTION: As on the first Thursday of every month, Kentuck opens its doors to visitors for a night of art, music, food and fun. Enjoy a live band, food from the cob oven, and the wonderful art of resident Kentuck artists.

PUBLICIZE YOUR EVENT. CONTACT

planeteditor@yahoo.com Check out our new website: www.theplanetweekly.com

>>> PLANETWEEKLY • tuscaloosa's SOURCE for entertainment, music, sports & THE ARTS

SEPTEMBER 18 + OCTOBER 2

17

>>> ROAD TRIP | SOUT H E AST E R N CONC E R TS AN D E V E NTS

KOZMIC MAMA // HUNTSVILLE

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18

BIRMINGHAM The Wood Brothers, WorkPlay Theatre

NEW ORLEANS Bun B, Howlin’ Wolf

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19

BIRMINGHAM Mike Epps, BJCC Twenty One Pilots, Iron City The New Orleans Suspects with CBDB, Sloss Furnaces

MONTGOMERY Double Barrel Democracy, Head on the Door

NASHVILLE Foreigner, Schermerhorn Symphony Cnter

ATLANTA Nick Swardson, Tabernacle

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22

BIRMINGHAM Citizen Cope, Iron City

NASHVILLE Randy Rogers, Ryman Auditorium Yo Gotti, Nashville Municipal Auditorium Kygo w/ Amtrac, Exit In

ATLANTA Janoskians, Tabernacle

NEW ORLEANS David Gray, Saenger Theatre

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23

ATLANTA Keb Mo, Atlanta Botanical Garden Afghan Wigs, Center Stage NEW ORLEANS Darius Rucker, Champions Square at MercedesBenz Superdome Dax Riggs, One Eyed Jacks

saturday, SEPTEMBER 20

BIRMINGHAM Crown the Empire, Sloss Furnaces

ATLANTA Theory of a Deadman, Center Stage Paradise Fears, The Masquerade

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24

BIRMINGHAM Break Science w/ Space Jesus & Bad Robotz, Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark ATLANTA JOI, Center Stage

MONTGOMERY Rebel, Carl’s Country Karen Collins, The Hank Williams Museum

NASHVILLE Banks, Mercy Lounge/Cannery Ballroom

HUNTSVILLE WWE Live, Von Braun Concert Hall SYLO, Hideaway’s Lounge

NEW ORLEANS The Pretty Reckless, House of Blues

ATLANTA Whoopi Goldberg, Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre Tim and Eric, Variety Playhouse Ab-Soul, The Masquerade

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

BIRMINGHAM Perifery, Sloss Furnaces Experience Hendrix, Alys Stephens Center NASHVILLE Tycho, Mercy Lounge/Cannery Ballroom NEW ORLEANS

BIRMINGHAM AUGUST 29 // SEPTEMBER 28

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

HUNTSVILLE The Black Jacket Symphony, Von Braun Concert Hall

NASHVILLE Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers w/ Steve Winwood, Bridgestone Arena

WE CAME AS ROMANS WILL DOWNING // NEW//ORLEANS //

How to Dress Well, Hi Ho Lounge

BIRMINGHAM Rick Springfield, Iron City Real Estate, Bottletree Café

NASHVILLE Lorde, Grand Ole Opry House Snarky Puppy, Mercy Lounge/Cannery Ballroom Bahamas w/ The Weather Station, High Watt

HUNTSVILLE Kozmic Mama, Lee Ann’s Alyssa Jacey, Buenavista Mexican Cantina

NEW ORLEANS

Midnight Conspiracy, Howlin’ Wolf

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

MONTGOMERY Dale Watson, The Sanctuary B.B. Palmer and Kudzu, Cigar and Fine Spirits Bar

NASHVILLE The Avett Brothers, Riverfront Park

ODESZA // NEW ORLEANS // SEPTEMBER 27

FOREIGNER // NASHVILLE // SEPTEMBER 21

// SEPTEMBER 19

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 BIRMINGHAM The Velcro Pygmies, Iron Horse Café Trotline, Sloss Furnaces

ATLANTA Outkast w/ Kid Cudi and Childish Gambino, Centennial Olympic Park Styx, The Gathering Place Greensky Bluegrass, Variety Playhouse Skid Row, Wild Bill’s MONTGOMERY Jessie Lynn, Agriculture Heritage Park NASHVILLE Amy Schumer, Ryman Auditorium NEW ORLEANS 1964 the Tribute, Saenger Theatre Odesza, One Eyed Jacks

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

JETHRO TULL //ATLANTA //

SEPTEMBER 30

NEW ORLEANS Andy McKee, House of Blues

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

BIRMINGHAM J Mascis, Bottletree Café

ATLANTA Jethro Tull, Symphony Hall Atlanta NASHVILLE Skrillex, Nashville War Memorial Auditorium

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1

ATLANTA One Direction, Georgia Dome Belle and Sebastian, Tabernacle

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2

BIRMINGHAM Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue, Alys Stephens Center Broken Bells, Iron City HUNTSVILLE Hall and Oates, Von Braun Concert Hall

BIRMINGHAM We Came As Romans, Sloss Furnaces

MONTGOMERY Luke Bryan, Ingram Farms

ATLANTA The Head and the Heart, Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre The Airborne Toxic Event, The Buckhead Theater

NASHVILLE St. Lucia, Mercy Lounge/Cannery Ballroom

NEW ORLEANS Phillip Phillips, Mahalia Jackson Theater

NEW ORLEANS Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, House of Blues

NASHVILLE Chicago, Ryman Auditorium Bonobo, Marathon Music Works

>>> 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

Amphitheater at the Wharf 23101 Canal Rd 251.224.1020

The Hangout 251.948.3030 thehangout1.com

Bridgestone Arena 501 Broadway 615.770.2000

Marathon Music Works 1402 Clinton St 615.891.1781

Centennial Olympic Park 265 Park Ave W NW 404.223.4412

Minglewood Hall 1555 Madison Ave 901.312.6058

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SEPTEMBER 18 + OCTOBER 2

Montgomery Performing Arts Center 201 Tallapoosa St 334.481.5100 The Nick 2514 10th Ave S 205.252.3831 Sloss Furnaces 20 32nd St N 205.324.1911 Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre 2200 Encore Pkwy 404.733.5010

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

Von Braun Center 700 Monroe St SW 256.551.2345 WorkPlay 500 23rd St S 205.380.4082 Zydeco 2001 15th Ave S 205.933.1032

WRITERS WANTED CONTACT PLANETEDITOR@YAHOO.COM

>>> LOCAL MUSIC | WHO'S PL AYING AROUND TOWN

SISTER HAZEL // JUPITER BAR

RICKY YOUNG // ROUNDERS

// SEPTEMBER 11

// SEPTEMBER 12

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 18

Casey Thrasher, Rhythm & Brews Couches / Three Crown Imps, Green Bar

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19

Velcro Pygmies, Rhythm & Brews Sean Rivers, Rounders Gravy, Green Bar

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20

The Steels, Green Bar Sean Rivers / The Devines, Rounders Glen Templeton / Desperate Measures, Rhythm & Brews

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

Sumilin, Green Bar Cooter Brown, Rhythm & Brews Matt Bennett, Rounders

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

Your Girlfriend, Rhythm & Brews Original Snake Charmers, Green Bar Axe to Grind, Rounders I'm Shmacked, Jupiter Who Shot Lizzie, Mike's Place

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27

Steady Flow, Green Bar Farmers Daughter, Rhythm & Brews

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2

HAVE YOUR LOCAL MUSIC EVENT LISTED FREE. PLEASE EMAIL

Dank Sinatra / The Junkyard Kings, Green Bar

PLANETEDITOR@YAHOO.COM

>>> LO C A L B A R S 4th & 23rd //

Buffalo Wild Wings // 523-0273

Gallettes // 758-2010

Jackie's Lounge // 758-9179

Rhythm & Brews // 750-2992

1831 // 331-4632

Capones // 248-0255

Gnemis Top Shelf Tavern // 343-0020

The Jupiter // 248-6611

Rounders // 345-4848

Alcove // 469-9110

Carpe Vino // 366-8444

Grey Lady // 469-9521

The Legacy // 345-4848

Bear Trap // 345-2766

Catch 22 // 344-9347

Harry's Bar // 331-4151

Mellow Mushroom // 758-0112

Big Al's // 759-9180

Copper Top // 343-6867

Houndstooth // 752-8444

Mike's Place // 764-0185

The Booth // 764-0557

Downtown Pub // 750-0008

Innisfree // 345-1199

Mugshots // 391-0572

>>> PLANETWEEKLY • tuscaloosa's SOURCE for entertainment, music, sports & THE ARTS

SEPTEMBER 18 + OCTOBER 2

19

Photo: UA Athletic Photography

>>> S T E P H E N ' S R E P O R T | S T E P H E N S M I T H

FIELD OR PRESS BOX? // WHAT BEST SUITS AN OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR?

Head coaches attract a lot of attention, but the chess game in football starts with the coordinators. Whether its offense or defense, a coordinator’s primary job is to articulate the system to each player in order to for the player to obtain a clear understanding.

Defensive coordinators are on the field most of the time. They are ones who are barking out assignments and trying to get everyone set in the right position.

Offensive coordinators are focused on running set plays. It’s their job to make

20

SEPTEMBER 18 + OCTOBER 2

sure everything flows smoothly.

Unlike defensive coordinators, offensive coordinators have an alternative. An offensive coordinator can operate either on the field or in the press box.

Both venues have their perks, but let’s start with the press box first: Press box Advantages The press box is spacious (offensive coordinators need room to work).

Being inside gives a coordinator time to process thoughts.

With head phones in the press box, communicating to quarterbacks is crisp.

Field Advantages When coordinators are on the field, they get a better view of the game.

The communication is faster because you see what the team sees.

If an offense doesn’t understand the play called, adjustments can be made quickly.

Despite the perks, both venues have their disadvantages. We started with the press box on advantages, so let’s dissect the field drawbacks: Field Woes A lot of crowd noise disrupts an offense’s timing. This causes a coordinator to constantly change plays or burn timeouts. Some coordinators perform better in space. It’s crowded on the sidelines and being packed in tight doesn’t allow enough room for thinking.

Press box Woes Technical difficulties happen in college football. It’s just part of the game.

If there is a breakdown in communication, a coordinator would have to leave the press box and go to the field. Time and strategy are both wasted when this happens.

Being an offensive coordinator in this league is a lot of work. Offensive coordinators are constantly changing plays, creating different packages and trying to combat defensive coordinators.

In Alabama’s game against West Vir-

ginia, Nick Saban wanted Lane Kiffin on the sidelines. Kiffin preferred the press box because of the advantages stated earlier, but Saban knew that Alabama’s offense would be nervous against the Mountaineers and he needed Kiffin on the field to maintain balance.

The Crimson Tide defeated West Virginia 33-23 and its offense totaled 538 yards. Kiffin was able to keep Blake Sims calm by going no huddle and Sims passed for 250 yards. Kiffin’s simple, yet aggressive play calling helped Alabama total 288 yards rushing with three scores.

Alabama is ninth nationally in offense, averaging 579.0 yards per game. The Crimson Tide has maintained balance on the ground as well as in the air.

The phrase “different strokes for different folks” is significant. Both venues are nice, but some coordinators will prefer press box over field and vice versa.

The important thing for an offensive coordinator is to find an area that’s conducive to helping him run a productive offense.

Field view gives coordinators a better perspective on the team, while press box view is better for thinking. Fans, you decide. Which area is better suited for offensive coordinators, the field or the press box?

>>> PLANETWEEKLY • tuscaloosa's SOURCE for entertainment, music, sports & THE ARTS

Photos: UA Athletic Photography

>>> HIGH TIDE | G A R Y H A R R I S / W V U A S P O R T S D I R E C T O R

BAMA IS READY FOR FLORIDA // SABAN TALKS GATORS AND MORE it. But we're going to be playing against better players and they're going to have more capabilities to make plays, which is a bigger challenge for us to do our jobs better."

On getting players not named Amari Cooper involved in the passing game: "I think there were opportunities for other guys. Sometimes we didn't get them the ball. But I also think we're trying to feature the guys that we have. So far, what we've tried to do has been effective and it's worked and a lot of it has gone through Amari Cooper. D White had six catches in the first game before he got hurt. Christion Jones had four in the last game. The running backs, I think that we utilized all of those guys. We have people with capabilities and we want them to be involved. I think we have ways that we can do that."

Dallas Warmack

On the Southern Miss game: "We definitely played better as the game went on. Didn't start out great in the game. But as the game went on, we played better, executed better, played more physical. We started out tentative for some reason, but I think overall we really improved. I think it's really important to continue to improve and play with confidence, make plays when we have opportunities to make plays, especially when you get into league play, which we are now. We have to do a little bit better job preparing, do a little bit better job executing against the teams that we play."

On injuries: "We've got a couple of guys that are a little bit nicked up that may not be a hundred percent today but we should have just about everybody tomorrow. White will practice this week. We'll kind of see how it goes with him and make a decision later this week to see if he's able to go out there and play. He practiced last week, so we're encouraged by the progress that he's made. Jarrick Williams will start running and doing drills this week, but probably a much greater longshot for him to be able to play this week."

On the Florida game: "I think that games like this the players get really excited. If they don't, they don't understand Alabama football and they don't understand the SEC, but I think we have enough guys on our team that understand that, so I don't think that will be an issue. I think the fans also get excited and I think it's important that they create an atmosphere for our team to have the best chance to be successful in this game. Noise, energy, enthusiasm, all of those things carry over in how we play.

"I think Florida has a really, really good team. Maybe a lot better team than

what they're ranked right now, because ratings right now don't mean a lot.

Their new offensive coordinator [Kurt Roper] has definitely done a good job for them in terms of what they're doing offensively. They have some significant impact players back who were injured a year ago. Their quarterback has played very well. They have two running backs that have played very, very well. Their receiver, number 11 Robinson, is one of the top guys in the country. So this is a much, much improved offensive football team. Their offensive line is big and playing much better. Defensively, these guys always play really good on defense. They're always one of the top teams in our conference when it comes to defense. Will does a good job with that part of it. They've got really good players and they play well together. They have good specialists and returners that are explosive on special teams."

On what makes Amari Cooper a good receiver: "He's got really good size. Very quick for a guy his size. He's got explosive speed. He's exceptionally good against press coming off the ball, but also he's very good coming out of the break. He has really good ball skills. So he's the complete package when it comes to a guy that's a pretty complete player. He'll probably get a lot more man-to-man coverage in this game. It will be interesting to see how he handles that. He does a good job with it in practice."

On the team's progress through three games: "I think our team has definitely gotten better. I think that we have a young team in a lot of areas, and I think that those guys need to continue to play with more confidence. Hopefully in the games that we have played, they have gained more

confidence and understanding of what it takes to play and be successful. I think that's how players learn best, when they play in games. I do think that our team has improved. But I also think that it's very, very important that we continue to improve and be one of those teams that can play with consistency, because I don't think you play well one week and not so well the next and be able to survive. I think the best way to do that is play one game at a time. I'm encouraged by the attitude that this team has. We're just going to have to keep doing that and keep developing as a team."

On improving the tackling: "I think we didn't feel like we tackled very well in the first two games. I thought we tackled much better in the last game.

If you start tackling and take guys to the ground in practice, I think you're going to get a lot of guys banged up. So the emphasis for us is to get yourself in the right position to tackle and thud. We probably did a better job of doing that in practice last week, and we probably did a better job of tackling because of it in the game.

I think it's going to be very, very important that we continue to do that, because missed tackles and mental errors will just kill you when it comes to playing good defense."

On what makes UF's Demarcus Robinson a good receiver: "He's got good size. He's a really competitive guy. He's got good hands and he's got good speed. Kentucky played them off a lot and pressured a lot, so it definitely created some opportunities and he took advantage of it quite a bit and made some big plays. He has the ability to run with the ball after the catch. He's a pretty compete player in my mind when it comes to outstanding receivers."

On UF star CB Vernon Hargreaves: "He was a really, really good player in high school. He's very instinctive player.

He's fast, quick. But I think probably his greatest asset, besides having great ability, is that he's very instinctive player.

He's tough, physical. He's got good ball skills. Can play man to man and he's a good tackler. He does all those things very well."

On limiting explosive plays against the better competition in the SEC: "When players are in position to make plays, they need to make those plays.

A couple of those plays that ended up being explosive plays, people were in position to make the plays and their player made the play on the ball. We need to do a better job in that regard. But I think we're improving in that area. We're in the right places. We've just got to play the ball with confidence and make plays on the ball. I think that will eliminate a lot of

>>> PLANETWEEKLY • tuscaloosa's SOURCE for entertainment, music, sports & THE ARTS

Photo: TouchdownAlabama.net SEPTEMBER 18 + OCTOBER 2

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>>> T H E F L AT S C R E E N | C A R A B R A K E

>>> MUSIC | J U DA H M A R T I N

FALL PREVIEW // VAMPIRES, THE MAN OF THE EVENING GOTHAM CITY, AND // HE CAN PLAY LEADING LADIES

Photo: Judah Martin

As summer comes to an end, it gives way to falling leaves, pumpkins, and brand new television shows. To break out of your summer slump, keep a look-out for these upcoming television shows.

First up on our list is a medical examiner who does more than just deal with the dead. “Forever” follows Dr. Henry Morgan, New York’s "Forever" // ABC best medical examiner. Morgan solves cases for the police, while trying to solve a mystery of his own: the secret to his own mortality. While he impresses his partner, Det. Jo Martinez, with the skills his life of over 200 years has given him, his secret is only known to his best friend, Abe. “Forever” stars Ioan Gruffudd (Fantastic Four) as Dr. Henry Morgan, Alana De La Garza (“Law & Order”, “CSI: Miami”) as Detective Jo Martinez, and Judd Hirsch (Damages, “Numb3rs”) as Abe. “Forever” will air on September 22nd on ABC at 10/9 central.

Superheroes are all the rage on silver screen, and television is no exception. DC Universe is taking to the television screen with “Gotham”, a Batman spin off featuring popular villians such as The Penguin, Catwoman, Two Face and The Joker. “Gotham” shows audiences the rise of all of these villains and heroes—the fight of Detective Jim Gordon, Gotham’s most famous detective, Bruce Wayne before he became Batman, "Gotham" // FOX and the most treacherous supervillians of all time tell their backstories and show how they became what the fans of the are familiar with. Ben McKenzie stars as Jim Gordon, David Mazouz as Bruce Wayne, Camren Bicondova as Selena Kyle, Robin Lord Taylor as Oswald Cobblepot, and Cory Michael Smith as Edward Nygma. “Gotham” will air on FOX on September 22nd at 8/7 central.

Marvel has a television adaption of “The Flash” coming up this October starring “Glee”’s Grant Gustin as Barry Allen, a CSI (crime scene investigator) who is on the hunt for the truth about how his mother was killed and to free his father of blame for the crime. After being struck by lightening, Barry develops super speed, and he flies through Central City saving the day. “The Flash” stars Grant Gustin, Candice Patton as Barry’s best friend Iris, Jesse L. Martin as Det. Joe "Flash" // CW West, and Danielle Panabaker as Caitlin Snow, and will air on October 7th at 8/7 central on the CW Network.

Finally, four law students get a very realistic lesson in “How To Get Away With Murder”, airing on ABC. Viola Davis (“The Help”) stars as Professor Analise Keating, a teacher who gets entangled in four of her students’ drama, and shows them that you do, in fact, use lessons from the classroom in real life.

The students will do anything to make Keating’s law team, legal or not. “How To Get Away With Murder” stars Viola Davis, Billy Brown, and Alfred Enoch, and will air September 25th at 10/9 central.

For a full list of premieres and shows, check out www.tvguide.com.

"How to Get Away With Murder" // ABC Jil Chambless

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SEPTEMBER 18 + OCTOBER 2

Dressed in a black t-shirt and loose white linen pants, Michael Brannon made his way across the veranda of the Firemen’s Lodge in Northport in late August, shaking hands, patting people on the back and reminding them of how good it was to see them all again.

Inside the lodge, family members and old friends got to know each other all over again over plates of pulled pork and southernstyle potato salad. An inexorable disco ball proMichael Brannon, aka Michal B Reddy vided the only light, save for what little seeped out from the stage and a nearby kitchen. The people talked and kept themselves busy, but they were waiting on Brannon.

Meghan Steel The rows of tables that stretched nearly the length of the room were almost completely full of people waiting to see him perform. To many of them, he is something like a legend. They tell incredible stories about him. One man whispered that, since starting his band The Blues Crew in 2012, Brannon is rumored to have legally changed his name to his stage name, Michael B Reddy.

And so the people waited for him. But Brannon took his time getting across the room. He casually circled his way around, stopping to mingle at this or that table. He wasn’t ready to get on stage just yet. On the far left of the room, sitting beneath an American flag tacked to the wall above her, his wife Katrina waited for him as well.

Soon the tables were all full, the guests had devoured their barbecue, and everyone was ready to have a good time. So members of The Blues Crew set up their microphones and plugged in their guitars.

The band is comprised of Guitar Player Michael “Razor” Sharp, Pianist Don Dendy, self-titled “Ragin Cajun” Fiddle Player Thomas Jenkins and the Harmonica Boy Wonder, Jameson Hubbard, a 19-year-old who is regarded by the rest of the band as a harmonica-playing prodigy. When all was set up, Sharp got to singing and the room grew quiet.

The band transitioned back and forth from heart-wrenching ballads to funk-infused, up tempo rhythms that would send the people in the audience to tapping their feet, rocking their heads and tapping their fingers lightly against the table tops to the beat of the drums.

Sharp backed away from the microphone as he tore more violently into the guitar.

Hubbard followed his lead and it looked as if his harmonica were leading him to where Sharp stood raging against his guitar strings.

The older man, Sharp, would look occasionally up from his guitar to glance at Hubbard. They seemed to be having a conversation through their instruments. Sharp would play a note on his guitar and Hubbard would respond, almost convulsing, blowing into his harmonica with all of his might, making each note come a little bit more alive than the last.

Out in the audience, Brannon's father, Huey, grinned in amazement.

“He’s just a kid,” he exclaimed. “He can really play! I’ve never heard anyone play a harmonica like that before.”

The Blues Crew concluded their song and lapsed into something slower, so Michael Brannon took Katrina’s hand and, together, they made their way to a spot at the front of the stage with no tables, joining just a few other couples who had finished their barbecue and wanted to dance.

A little while later, the band took a break and Brannon disappeared. The room returned to its previous state as people crowded in line for second helpings, drifted out to their cars to find their cigarette lighters or stayed at their tables to talk about how much fun they were having.

When everyone returned, Brannon had transformed into Michael B Reddy. He stood before them now at the microphone in the center of the stage, dressed in a hounds tooth coat and one of the cowboy hats no one has ever seen him perform without. He took a moment to offer some personal recollections about his band mates. He pointed first to Hubbard.

“I discovered this guy right here,” he said, harkening back to the time when he first observed Hubbard playing. “Jameson is one of the best harmonica players you’ll ever hear. I’m just telling you.”

At that, Brannon started a soft tune on his guitar.

“You need to hold somebody close, this is a slow one,” he said during the intro to the song. The couples in the audience returned to the dance floor as Brannon began to sing.

“I’m so lonesome, I’m so lonesome,” he crooned as the couples held each other close and drifted ever so slowly in short circles.

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

>>> HOROSCOPES |

weekly overview

>>> PUZZLEMAniA |

Sudoku

A passionate encounter might capture your imagination early in the week as thoughts about a certain person perhaps become obsessive.

Being too premature here could result in embarrassment, so bide your time. Meanwhile, Mars in Sagittarius can make it competitive when it comes to business matters and entrepreneurial affairs. You'll want to explore the potential for increasing your earnings, and you're willing to move out of your comfort zone to do so. Later, try to avoid lending money - you may not get it back.

Monday's Quarter Moon might inspire you to come up with creative ways to redecorate your home. The combination of borrowed ideas and natural genius could give your place a delightful makeover.

When it comes to romance, an instant attraction might be tempting, but there's a chance it may not last. Later, issues associated with your job or career could divert your attention away from your partner.

Give work a rest, and instead make a decision to spend quality time with your sweetheart.

Your intuition could conflict with the facts in a key situation, making it hard to choose the best path ahead. But if you can adopt a fresh perspective, you might find the right answer was there all along just waiting to be noticed. Mars in your health zone encourages you to explore ways to exercise without boredom. Consider dancing, swimming, or even martial arts if it will help you stay fit and feel fabulous. Enjoy a fun weekend and make time to relax.

Work and play conflict as the focus shifts. You may prefer pleasurable options to knuckling down to the daily grind. However, the offer of extra money might be enough to entice you to work long hours. The week unfolds in a relaxed way with romance high on the agenda.

A love adventure may be just what you need to boost your mood and brighten current circumstances. Even online liaisons look very possible and could lead to something stronger. Watch your spending over the weekend. You could be tempted to splurge.

Will intense feelings tempt you to dive headlong into a romance?

The current climate suggests it's possible even though deep down you know better. Meanwhile, you may zip into action on the home front, eager to get down to some DIY projects like redecorating or perhaps something bigger. If you're renting, this might be the time you decide to buy some property. Go easy over the weekend.

You and your sweetheart may not see eye to eye, which could be unsettling unless you can be willing to compromise.

The more time you take to understand how you feel about a situation the better. Regular meditation and dream work can let you know how things sit with your subconscious and if your conscious mind is in alignment with it. With this inside information you should be able to make a more informed decision. Be careful when signing important documents or saving files on the computer. An edgy influence suggests you could lose out. You can save yourself a lot of trouble if you take a little extra care.

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 27

A very positive influence can make all the difference to your career situation. This is the time to put in the hard work that can lead to some jaw-dropping opportunities. With just a little effort you can reap big rewards over this week and next. What's more, if you don't succeed the first time, keep trying. This weekend a friendship or budding romance could show signs of growing more committed, but more trust may be needed before it can really blossom.

An opportunity to net a lucrative contract could be yours early on.

Don't waste time wondering whether or not to take it, as it won't be around for long. In addition, if you're after action and adventure, you can have plenty of both. The offer of a trip could lead to some exciting opportunities if you can be willing to move outside your comfort zone. If you prefer working, you have some excellent chances to upgrade your skill set or find a job in an exotic location.

Business talks and money transactions work in your favor as Jupiter continues its move through your zone of shared assets. Along with this, the presence of Mercury in Libra enhances your ability to negotiate with key people, giving you more leverage in crucial situations. The weekend brings a chance to collaborate on projects that may be hard work but also lucrative. Avoid giving away too much personal information, however, as you may regret it later (even though you might normally trust this person).

Everything is about attitude this week, so you might attract good things and people to you by keeping yours upbeat and cheerful. There is certainly a positive focus on your social sector, encouraging you to move in new circles that can bring positive opportunities your way. The cosmos is enticing you out of any rut you may have been in and pushing you to embrace a wider circle of friends and associates. Conserve your energy over the weekend—take the time to recharge.

A nice break from routine would do you a world of good and could quite possibly prove to be lucky. See what friends have on their agendas, and don't hesitate to join in if it sounds like fun. It's all systems go regarding a key ambition or important career goal. This is the time to plan for success and then take baby steps to achieve it. The only thing to watch out for is losing your focus. If you can remain true to your vision, you should do really well.

You may be galvanized into action at the start of the week, ready to explore new ideas and opportunities. Good fortune shows up for you when you make the effort in the areas of romance and creative activity. Studying and travel may also be on your mind, which might entice you to look for more information. The weekend focus is one of dutiful activity, along with a chance to catch up with yourself. Drift, dream, and do things that nurture your soul.

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SEPTEMBER 18 + OCTOBER 2

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

>>> BOOK REVIEW | C A M I L L E C O R B E T T

OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE // TREMENDOUSLY GRIPPING Everyone has nightmares they’ve forgotten.

Whether they were created in childhood, adolescence, or even adulthood. Within the novel, Ocean at the End of the Lane, Neil Gaiman brings back the haunting fear of nightmares past.

Although this novel’s initial intention was to satiate the literary interests of his wife, it quickly evolved into a surreal world that collides everyday issues with fantasy.

It seems as if Neil Gaiman left no stone unturned and took every opportunity to make this story as unsettling as possible. At the beginning of this 192-page adventure, the audience is introduced to an unnamed middle-aged protagonist returning to his childhood home for a funeral in Sussex, England. While in town, the protagonist decides he should visit the home of a childhood friend of his who moved to Australia, named Lettie Hempstock.

However, this is simply a frame for a much more sinister tale that the very their children and into their world possessame protagonist experienced as a sions when their mother returns to work child. For after encountering members of Lettie’s family, he begins to recall pre- and hires a hellish nanny who happens to be from a supernatural dimension and viously forgotten supernatural incidents the protagonist befriends a special mystifrom his childhood. cal friend of his own, Lettie Hempstock.

It should be noted that although a The rest of their novel flows the human majority of this story is written in the nature of each character into a web of perspective as a young boy, this isWidespread a Panic supernatural temptation and adventure. story for an adult. This story is freckled This novel is one of those special events with complex language and scare tactics works of fantasy that puts your reality into that would be lost on anyone under the moral question due the complex events it age of 12. Gaiman seems to revel in forces on it’s characters. the knowledge that although this story I give this book a 5 out of 5. Simply is from the perspective of a frightened because it was incredibly well written seven-year old, the true horror comes and caused me to bleed a response I from encountering the events within the thought impossible from a book: comnovel as an adult. Because this novel plete terror and awe. If you are already a exploits the hopelessness one feels as fan of Neil Gaiman, you will be absolutely a child, and forces his adult audience to enraptured by this book. In fact, this book experience a set of events that would be might not seem half as nightmarish to utterly paralyzing for a child to undergo. you as someone new to Gaiman, for you In addition, by mixing a sinister world will be used to his, complex and suffoof fantasy with a very realistic upper cating supernatural obstacles. However, middle class family life Gaiman explores this was my first Gaiman novel and it a perverse alternate reality where human left me with nightmares for about two vices can be exploited for supernatural weeks straight. As one who enjoys the gain and fantastical weaknesses can be darker, more hideously fine things in life, defeated through mortal love.

I appreciated that a relatively short book Gaiman deftly sweeps the audience could haunt my self conscious in such a into the story within the frame by promanner. But if you are of a faint of heart, I viding a window into the life of a seemwould advise you to beware and perhaps ingly ordinary seven-year old boy at his start with American Gods or Neverwhere birthday party. This time the audience before you hop into the darkest depths is introduced to the protagonist as a I’ve seen Gaiman go. However, if you’re bookish, friendless child whose parents ready for a jolly good scare, Ocean at the are far too preoccupied with conservEnd of The Lane is right up your alley. ing their middle class status to actually understand their own children. You see Follow Camille on Twitter @thewittygirl the protagonist’s parents slip further from

that

Across 1. Fancy sports cars, for short 5. Bitter-tasting 10. Dwell on tediously 14. Man ___ Mancha 15. "Really!"

16. Like the U.S. president's office 17. Bronte hero 19. Naldi of silents 20. Character actress Volz 21. Mise en scene 23. Sleeves cover them 26. Jesuit founder 27. The horse goes ___ 32. "___ Blu Dipinto di Blu" 33. South Kyushu strait 34. Paso ___: two-step 38. Caspian seaport 40. Stops on a rep's rte.

42. Island in the Carolines 43. How to start up a Model T 45. West Indian 47. Film director Lee 48. They're played from scratch 51. Glowing 54. Barbecue rod 55. Collision consequence 58. Art Deco, say 62. Corded fabric 63. Cue wielder 66. Der ____ (Adenauer) 67. Israeli seaport on the Gulf of Aqaba 68. 1102, in dates 69. Slog (through) 70. Like the Boston-accented pronunciation of many words 71. Lullaby Down 1. First name of four Presidents 2. "...for ___": "if you pay" 3. Joyful

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SEPTEMBER 18 + OCTOBER 2

4. Petty despot 5. Very old: abbr.

6. Newspaper feature: Abbr.

7. Crimson foes 8. Cleavage 9. Happen by chance 10. Pooh favorite 11. Dispatch craft 12. Badger of the tropics 13. Sonora silver 18. Silent brother in 'Duck Soup' 22. Buck's "The ___ Earth" 24. Hopi Indian locale 25. Wall finish 27. Network that covers the N.Y.S.E. 28. He disinherited his youngest daughter.

29. Actress-writer Chase 30. Recreation orgs.

31. Orange's family 35. "Dracula" novelist Stoker 36. Debussy's 'Clair de ___' 37. Aids for cardiologists 39. Expanded, as a compressed computer file 41. Ignoramus 44. ___ Ration: dog food brand 46. Tavern temptress 49. Autumn farm worker 50. Special Forces units 51. "That's ___!": director's "We're finished" 52. Turtle cover 53. Cognizant of, slangily 56. Besmirch 57. Bagel's middle 59. Big name in little trains 60. Halter attachment 61. Not a duplicate: Abbr.

64. ___Palmas (Canary Islands seaport) 65. A TD is worth 6 of these SOLUTION FOR PUZZLEMANIA CROSSWORD ON PAGE 27

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>>> B O O K R E V I E W | RYA N M AG E E

HALLEY // HISTORICAL YOUNG ADULT FICTION

Fourteen year-old Halley Franklin wants nothing more than to get an education and to leave her rural lifestyle behind. When her father dies in an accident however, those dreams are put on hold and Halley’s family must move in with her grandparents in order to survive the mountains of Georgia. Unfortunately, it is dismal household commanded through her miserly and tyrannical grandfather Pastor Franklin, and Halley must learn to accept their complacency while waiting for the Rapture. Set during the nation-wide struggle of the Great Depression, Halley begins a journey of self-discovery, spirituality, and womanhood in order to find her destiny.

Upon reading Halley, I had learned that author Faye Gibbons grew up during the time period and region in which the novel took place. I cannot imagine any better account than a first-hand one to describe the difficult life that was Depression-era Georgia, and Ms. Gibbons does so quite well. On each page, there are blunt and honest details in every chore, errand, and process that goes

into running a family farm. Several times, I had to call my own grandmother to ask what was involved in the jobs that Halley and her family did to make money like tufting spreads, picking cotton, and working at a mill. Suffice to say, it was not an easy life, and Ms. Gibbons makes that quite evident and coherent.

In a clever way of paying tribute to the individuals who were born into that lifestyle, Gibbons does not build much emotional depth with her characters; rather, they are all very humble and ordinary people. Halley is the only character that the reader has any commentary on, and there is certainly plenty any young woman can relate to. Even a century ago, romance, insecurities, and social pressure all plagued a fourteen year-old, and I feel Gibbons gently tries to make that aware to this detached generation that is her audience.

As a young adult novel, Halley goes above and beyond. As an overall work of literature, I feel that there were a few issues that I found somewhat infuriating. I feel that there was not much creative license taken

by Gibbons to really flesh out her vision. Moments that are critical to Halley’s life are gone in less than two paragraphs, and the feelings and nuances associated with them are either sparse or nowhere to be found. Many plot points as I can recall are resolved with a brief explanation or just seem to fade away.

But I suppose that cannot be much of a criticism if it’s similar to how life works. Events pass, only to exist in our mind. Halley isn’t a masterwork of American fiction by any means, but it is certainly is a simple reflection of how an elderly woman remembers her childhood. I feel that through living in this region of polite and quietly extraordinary folk, everyone knows of a young person feeling as Halley did, unsure of what fate has in store for them. If you feel that they would appreciate a bit of perspective, introduce them to Halley.

Published by NewSouth Books, Montgomery, Ala., Halley is available from NewSouth Books, and online.

EARN EXTRA INCOME Help Local Businesses Get More Customers!

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

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SEPTEMBER 18 + OCTOBER 2

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>>> RED CLAY DIARY | J I M R E E D

WANT TO KNOW THE RIGHT WAY TO ORGANIZE A BOOK STORE? // SO DO I! Only I know that, so far, I’ve learned from experience and from other armchair experts, a hundred ways not to organize a book store.

Photo: Audrey Davis

1. You can arrange all the books by color. This would please the customer who insists that she wants oversized old children’s nursery books, but only if they fit in with the color scheme of her expectant daughter’s baby-to-be room. I do my best to help, and she seems pleased with the results.

2. You can arrange all the books by size. Years ago, the Salvation Army Thrift Store book section manager did just that. The books were shelved by size. It took me years to realize that he was an adult illiterate—that he, by his own admission, could not read a word. This obviously qualified him for the job. I encouraged him to take an adult reading course, but have no way of knowing whether he took the advice.

3. You can arrange the value of the books by weight. Many’s the time I’ve taken a stack of books to a flea market dealer to be priced and bagged. He carefully holds each volume in his hand, testing its heft and size, before giving me a price. Heavier books are more expensive than light ones.

4. You can arrange them alphabetically, but this often backfires. For instance, if you are a customer looking for all books about Marilyn Monroe, it would take you a long time to find them in the show biz bio section, because they would be spread throughout the alphabet by the names of the authors. Or you can arrange the books by the name of the subject of the bio—mainly, placing all Marilyn Monroe titles together, regardless of author or heft or color or size. This backfires when someone asks for all books by Norman Mailer, for instance. You’d have to go to many different sections of the store to find them all—since he wrote books about all kinds of subjects, including Marilyn Monroe.

5. You can arrange books by series name—for instance, placing all Pollyanna books together, but in this and many other cases, the Pollyanna books were written by more than one author…if you were looking for all books by one Pollyanna author, you’d again have to scurry about the store a long time to find them.

6. You could arrange books by geographic location, but this can get complicated, too…

Anyhow, you catch the drift.

Next time you’re looking for a specific book at Reed Books/The Museum of Fond Memories and notice me running about, looking in different sections, you may be more tolerant. An example: “I’m looking for Ray Bradbury books.” Well, Bradbury wrote in practically every genre, so where do you look? His enormous lifetime output was only ten percent science fiction/fantasy. He also wrote grand opera, poetry, plays, architectural columns, mysteries, autobiography & biography, children’s books and science commentaries, to name a few. I know where they are in the store, but it may take me some time to make a stack for you to peruse.

Go ahead—make a better book store, one that’s perfectly arranged so that you can find anything instantly. If you can also invent a backpack or purse in which you can locate exactly what you want at the push of a button, you could make a bunch of money. But that’s in the science fiction genre, isn’t it? Where would you file the instructions? ©2014 by Jim Reed Let me know jim@jimreedbooks.com blog: www.redclaydiary.com

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SEPTEMBER 18 + OCTOBER 2

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NOW THROUGH OCT. 16

GOV'T MULE KICK DOWN BAMA THEATRE DOORS

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Tuscaloosa’s oldest and only Independent Book Store Celebrating 40 Years of Great Book Bargains Right Near OZ Records

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PARKVIEW 205.758.5770 PARKVIEW SHOPPING SHOPPING CENTER • 205.758.5770 SOLUTION FOR PUZZLEMAINIA SUDOKO PAGE 23

SOLUTION FOR PUZZLEMAINIA CROSSWORD PAGE 24

@TreyBrooks88

Having lived my entire life in Tuscaloosa, I can say without any hesitation that the Bama Theatre is by far the best venue in the city. It really is the center for artistic culture in West Alabama. The Italian décor of the stage and night-sky ceiling adds an air of intimacy that really connects the performers and audience together in a way very few venues can. Whether you are watching a play, an independent film or a band performance, the Bama Theatre seems to encourage audience engagement more than any other stage I have ever seen.

On October 2nd, this historic Tuscaloosa landmark will host an artist that is all too familiar with the importance of audience engagement. Gov’t Mule has been a staple of the jamband scene and festival circuit since the middle of the 1990’s. A band that embodies the do-it-yourself spirit of rock n’ roll troubadours of the past, Gov’t Mule bases their sound in the blues rock/early hard rock of power trios such as Cream and The Jimi Hendrix Experience, though their influences also include groups like the Grateful Dead, The Allman Brothers Band, Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple. Like most other jambands, their constant touring and ever-changing sets have earned them a devoted following, especially here in the South.

The key figure behind Gov’t Mule is guitarist and lead vocalist Warren Haynes.

Haynes has had a long and eventful career in music, even before Gov’t Mule ever came into existence. When he was just 20 years old, he joined country musician David Allan Coe’s touring and recording band as the lead guitarist. After touring with Coe for several years, Haynes joined the former Allman Brothers guitarist Dickey Betts solo project. When The Allman Brothers Band reformed in 1989, Betts recruited Haynes to be the second guitar player for the band. Though Betts eventually left the band, Haynes remains a member of the Allman Brothers to this day, although he has announced he will leave the band after this year. He has also toured with The Dead, the remaining members of the Grateful Dead.

Warren Haynes formed Gov’t Mule in 1994 as a side project initially. He was joined by bassist Allen Woody and drummer Matt Abts. Woody also played with the Allman Brothers, and Abts had been the drummer for Dickey Betts. They released a self-titled debut a year later, and followed with several live albums throughout the 90’s. Woody died in 2000, just after Mule released the album Life Before Insanity. He would eventually be replaced by Andy Hess, formerly of the Black Crowes. In 2002, Danny Louis joined as a keyboard player, expanding the line up to four members. Hess left the band in 2008 and was replaced by Jorgen Carlsson. Many other famous musicians have played with Gov’t Mule throughout their existence, including Chuck Leavell, Les Claypool, Oteil Burbridge, Victor Wooten, Billy Gibbons and Jack Bruce.

Warren Haynes last came to Tuscaloosa with his solo band in 2012. Haynes’ solo act is more focused on traditional blues and has a much more reserved performance. Gov’t Mule is much heavier, with emphasis on hard rock. There is sure to be quite a scene when they play at the Bama Theatre. I cannot think of a better venue for someone to watch Warren Haynes play guitar.

The old style works well for an old soul. The crowd will also be interesting to see. Mule’s fanbase contains a healthy mix of older rock fans and younger festival goers. The event is also another sign of the Bama Theatre’s continued variety of entertainment options that has defined the venue since the 1970’s. As a lifelong resident of Tuscaloosa, I appreciate what they have brought to this city.

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