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LITTLE CHICAGO FESTIVAL
Volume 30 • Issue #36 Publisher Luci Tate
happenings
Editor Graphic Arts Director Don Sprinkle Cover Design Bill May
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Little Chicago Music & Art Festival
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Kingsport Ballet Launches 33rd Season
Advertising Dave Carter Patti Barr Sam Jones Shawn Hale Coco Enriquez Judy Mahler
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‘How The Other Half Loves”
Contributing Staff Jim Kelly Andy Ross Ken Silvers Mark Marquette Brian McManus Joshua Hicks Brian Bishop Daniel Worley Jason Worley Langley Shazor Distribution Jerry Hanger Teresa Hanger Published by Pulse Publishing, LLC., P.O. Box 3238, Johnson City, TN 37602 Phone: 423/283-4324 FAX - 423/283-4369 www.theloaferonline.com info@theloaferonline.com e-mail: editorial@theloaferonline.com (editorial) adcopy@theloaferonline.com (advertising) All advertisements are accepted and published by the publisher upon the representation that the agency and/or advertiser is authorized to publish the entire contents
10 ‘Reclaiming / Remaking’ 11 National Quilt Trail Gathering 12 “A Night With Janis Joplin” 13 Foggy Valley Wedding Farce “For Better Or Worse” 14 Fiddlin’ Carson Peters headlines
columns & reviews
22 The Casual Word - Roy G Biv 24 Stargazer - Perseid Meteors Peak This Week 25 Skies This Week 26 Batteries Not Included - The Ross Family: An Irwin Allen Production 28 Pop Life - Jason Bourne 30 Mountain Movers - The Allison Bailey Stewart Interview 31 The Trivial Traveler - Walking In Wickford 32 Appalachian Wanderers - Dollywood Theme Park 38 Lock, Stock & Barrel - Rimfire Rifle Series Pt. 2 Mossberg 702 Plinkster 39 Kelly’s Place - Summering With The Criterion Collection
Salvation Army Fundraiser 15 Energizing Your Creative Community 16 $10 for TN Residents to Ripleys 17 The McClain Family Band @ Carter Fold 18 Lauren Cole Band Headlines Lakeside Concert 19 Sam Gleaves & Tyler Hughes @ Heartwood 23 “Sunday Afternooner Music Series” 33 Mountain Musician David Holt 35 Pets Of The Week 36 Things To Do
The GLOW Run 5K Page 27
37 Classifieds
INDIGHOST
Saturday, August 13th - 9:30pm - at The Little Chicago Music & Arts Festival - Nelson Stage
and subject matter thereof. The agency and/or advertiser will indemnify and save the publisher harmless from any loss of expense resulting from claims or suits based upon contents of any advertisement, including claims or suits for defamation, libel, right of privacy, plagiarism, and copyright infringement.
Founder: Bill Williams
music & fun 20
Spotlight - Great Music & Fun Times 30 Puzzle Page Yes, it’s back!
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READY FOR ITS INAUGURAL DEBUT
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ith things in check, and activities in full swing, the Johnson City Downtown Merchants Association is preparing for our inaugural Little Chicago Downtown Music & Arts Festival coming up soon on Friday, August 12th and Saturday, August 13th in the streets of Downtown Johnson City! From announcing the Founders After 5 musical act, Fat Cheek Kat, joining our already amazing musical lineup, a completely packed Family Fun Zone area for all ages, our downtown festival will be full of fun from beginning to end. There is such a variety of activities to explore in this 2-day event. Everyone will have had a great experience by the time you leave. We are excited about some standout features of the festival this year. Besides the full lineup of musical artist both days, area buskers will be playing in the streets throughout the festival as well. An assortment of arts & crafts vendors will be stretched from stage to stage on E. Main St. and will extend around Spring St. Did we mention the food? The E. Market St. area will host some of the best festival food we’ve ever seen. From savory to sweet, your taste buds will be thrilled you visited our food court area. Special events will be going on throughout the festival. Create Appalachia will be bringing art into the streets—literally! Local artists will descend on Downtown JC during the festival to create small artworks that transform unattractive cracks, crannies, posts and pipes into something magical. Children can participate in Tiny Street Art Throwndown in the form of a scavenger hunt,
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and winners will be announced at 6pm Saturday evening in our Family Fun Zone area. Prizes will be awarded to the seekers who discover these masterpieces, take selfies with them, and turn in the most selfies showing the art. Staying with the arts theme of the festival, Nelson Fine Arts, Mid-City Grill and Backdoor Records will sponsor an Urban Art Invitational which will feature local artists demonstrating their talent and skills on a 6 foot by 8 foot panel right in front of your eyes. The Invitational will begin on Friday, August 12th at 4pm in the Downtown Square Parking Lot facing State of Franklin Rd. for all to enjoy! Who doesn’t love a car show? A brand new addition to downtown is our festival’s Little Chicago Car Show brought to you by Roll Hard, Inc. Car Club. On Saturday, August 13th from 11am3pm Buffalo Street will be lined with a variety of muscle cars, import cars and big bikes for your viewing pleasure. One of the region’s favorite 5K races will be joining our festival this year as well. The UMOJA Unity 5K Race will be in held on Friday, August 12th beginning at 7:30pm. This annual run/ walk event will start at Buffalo St. and wind through the tree streets area as in years past. Those waiting for the race to begin will be entertained by a true Native American as he performs authentic Native American dances. The girls are back! Little City Roller Girls will host the Skater’s Paradise This is one you don’t want to miss! Top skaters from around the south competing in an all-day, outdoor roller derby tournament. Scrimmages will begin at 11am and will continue throughout the day in 30 minute intervals every hour. Stop by anytime Saturday between 11am to 9pm to watch them in action. The Family Fun Zone is hands-down one of the most popular places to be at our festival. Starting mid-morning, activities such as a 6 foot Storybook Maze, Kindermusik, young child drum circles and more will be available for preschoolers and young children. Afternoons will hold activities in the performing arts area, such as Interactive dance, clogging, and even belly dancing. On Saturday at 11:30am, make sure to stop by our Meet and Greet tent and meet local star athletes of our great area. Our own Johnson City Cardinals along with local high school and college athletes will be available for autographs, questions and photo ops. This is sure to be a fan favorite. Also on Saturday, Lowe’s will be sponsoring a PYOP (Pot-Your-Own-Plant) event from 3pm-7pm in the Family Fun Zone. Kids can decorate their very own pot and choose a plant for it to take home. The Johnson City Public Library will have a craft activity area where you can come do a make-and-take craft remnant of the Little Chicago era. In the evenings, make sure to stop by and participate in the Family Storybook Maze, and teens - tweens will love the Spooky Storybook Maze every night beginning at 8:30pm. Ongoing events throughout the day will include our very own Hobo the Clown, a toddler inflatable, face painting, the JC Cardinals batting cage, a rafting photo op sponsored by USA Raft and Fenders Farm will also be doing barrel train rides from 11am-2pm and 4pm-7pm both days. The City of Johnson City has played a huge role in helping with our festival, which would not be possible without them. They will be providing a Touch-A-Truck event from 3pm-6pm on Saturday at the top end of S. Roan St. Fire, EMS and police will be on hand for festival goers to experience actual emergency vehicles in person. They will also be holding safety demonstrations during these times. Safety is our number one goal for all participants of the fes-
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Chicago . .. . continued from page 4 tival. The heat and humidity is always a concern for everyone going to an outdoor event. There will be courtesy resting stations specifically for seniors (sponsored by The Lexington Senior Living), special needs individuals, and pregnant or nursing mothers. Misting tents will be placed strategically throughout the festival’s footprint as well, to help beat the heat. One of the most anticipated specialties of the festival that people are excited about is the misting alley! The alley between Capone’s and Numan’s will be lined with misting tents to help cool you off as you go between the food court, the main arts and crafts area and back. Wrapping up the jam-packed weekend will be a Rocking Decades Block Party starting around 9:30pm on Saturday night. Shortly after the last musical act of the evening, our very own DJ Breese will be spinning as everyone is invited to come dressed in your favorite decade attire and dance, dance, dance to beats from the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. Lights and hype will make this event fun in its purest form! For more information on musical artists, festival schedule of events, map layout and more, please visit us online at www.littlechicagofestival. com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
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chicago . . . . continued from page 5
and Snapchat. We will be posting photos and doing live videos throughout the festival weekend. You may be featured in one yourself! Special thanks to our title sponsor, Cherokee Distributing of Johnson City, and all of our wonderful associate sponsors, friends of the festival, media sponsors, GoFundMe contributors, fans and friends. This event was planned by the Johnson City Downtown Merchants Association with love and respect for downtown Johnson City, its merchants, patrons and supporters. Let’s all come together to celebrate even more at the colossal event on Aug. 12th and 13th from 11am-11pm. We can’t wait to see you there.
www.littlechicagofestival.com
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festival
Kingsport Ballet Launches 33rd Season New Works and Classic Re-stagings in Store
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ingsport Ballet will launch its 33rd season with more fitness programs for the community, more students in its sought-after ballet program, and various other expanded projects, such as kb Boutique – an in-house dance supply store. Kingsport Ballet Company dancers will return to the Tennessee Association of Dance Festival this October, as two of their students who won scholarships there last year, will be performing. The Company’s yearly Nutcracker at Wellmont Performing Arts Center saw sold-out audiences last December. And a new, original work in celebration of the City’s 100th anniversary, inspired by the rich history of our area and the interesting times of the early 20th century will be on the slate for March and April. “Seeds of Change” will be a two act ballet to be premiered to the public in spring of 2017. The first act of Seeds of Change will be new choreography exploring issues specific to 1917, while act two will be a staging of Les Sylphides. This is a short ballet which became known at that time in history. The first Diaghilevs Ballets Russes authorized staging was in New York City in 1916. It is a non-narrative “ballet blanc.” Chopiniana is described as a “romantic reverie” frequently cited as the first ballet to be simply about mood and dance as opposed to being about royal families, princesses and fairies, as many story ballets are. Les Sylphides has no plot, but instead consists of several white-clad sylphs dancing in the moonlight with the “poet.” The impact of WWI on society and the arts was felt around the world. From the growth of
Beginner class with KB Teacher, Erika Ballard
small cities built around the industrial boom caused by the war, to the proliferation of art forms and social norms that sought to break tradition, life as it was in the first part of the 20th century changed dramatically around the time when Kingsport City was founded in 1917. Kingsport Ballet will explore these issues in their new work, Seeds of Change. New teaching season begins August 15th with registration for classes slated for August 8th-13th. New students are being accepted at all levels in both the Recreational and Curriculum tracks of study. For more information call: 423-378-3967 or email kingsportballet@gmail.com or visit: kingsportballet.org Kingsport Ballet is supported in part for general operations by the Tennessee Arts Commission under an agreement with the General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts. Outreach programs are funded in part by the Tennessee Arts Commission’s Funds for At-Risk Youth, the City of Kingsport, the Massengil De-Friece Foundation, and the Junior League of Kingsport, among other foundations and private entities.
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JCCT Presents “How the other half loves”
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his August, the Johnson City Community Theater will bring to the stage Sir Alan Ayckbourne’s ingenious comedy, “How the Other Half Loves.“ Set in 1970, New York City, the play is at once timeless in its themes, and yet caught in a moment of time like no other. It is an era of revolutions of all sorts, but most importantly for Ayckbourne, and the subsequent eighty plays he would write after “How the Other Half Loves”, is the revolution of women’s roles and a breaking down of strict class structures, which all play a part in this imaginative farce comedy. The play itself depends on unique characteristics of the era, such as having only one family telephone for communication, which makes having secret conversations, like those between characters Bob and Fiona, nearly impossible. Yet for all of its connections to the year 1970, the play speaks to audiences as if it were written today. As long as couples argue and cheat on each other, as long as company CEO’s remain capable of being addlebrained oafs, as long as there are gender divides, economic divides and a race toward social status, this play remains a timely treat. Much of the fun of this play lies in its ingenious staging. Directors Sabra Hayden and Angus Walton remain true to much of the original direction, which asks the audience to take an imaginative leap and pay close attention to small details, as they experience two families simultaneously sharing the same stage. Frank and Fiona Foster are among the upper crust of society, and occupy an area not set apart from, but within the world of Bob and Theresa Phillips, a young couple at the bottom of the social ladder. It is a true audience challenge to keep up with where and when the scenes are happening, as small clues are dropped here and there by the characters. Two of these four characters are having a secret affair, and when questions are raised, another couple, working hard to make their way into higher social circles, are thrust into a realm of confusion and hilarity. Frank Foster, (the addlebrained CEO), is brilliantly portrayed by Larry Bunton, who has a knack for comic timing. Bunton, a veteran actor in this region, is regularly seen in productions at the JCCT, and recently performed in Jonesborough Repertory Theatre’s “Noises Off”. Married to Frank is the elegant Fiona Foster, played by Jules Corriere, and together, they represents the dear yet often dull routine of a couple in long-term relationship. Contrasted to this is the Phillips family, newly married, often not happily, played by a rebellious Chris Jones, who most audiences will remember for his role in “Farce of Nature”. Bob Phillip’s wife (and often-time opponent) Terry, is a force to be reckoned with, in a fierce performance by Carolee Mabe, most recently seen in “RENT” and “White Christmas”. Countering these two couples are the meek Detweilers, doing everything they can to rise in the ranks of the upper-middle class, including attending social functions for which they have no experience to glean from, providing plenty of awkward and hilarious moments in the play. Audiences may have seen Matt Quick, who plays the brown-nosing William Detweiler, in last year’s production of “Like Kissing Moonlight”, or in Greeneville’s Capital Theater as a member of the improve group “Blue Plate Special”. William often boasts of grooming and molding his mild-natured wife, Mary, into the kind of woman he thinks she should be. Mary is played by Kaylie Crain, who is making her stage debut at the JCCT in a role that accomplishes what the other female characters in the play are striving toward- a change in the status quo. The play opens August 12 and runs three weekends through August 27. Tickets are $15, with Senior and Students prices of $12 and are available by calling the box office at 423-926-2542. For questions and information, please email boxoffice@jcct. info or call 423-926-2542.
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‘Reclaiming/Remaking’ exhibit on display at Tipton Gallery
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eclaiming/Remaking,” a multimedia exhibit addressing issues surrounding climate change, is on display at Tipton Gallery in downtown Johnson City through Aug. 19. The free public exhibit is presented by the East Tennessee State University Department of Art and Design and Slocumb Galleries in partnership with Johnson City’s Urban Redevelopment Alliance, Boone Street Market and ETSU’s Women’s Studies Program and Department of Sustainability. A reception is planned for Friday, Aug. 12, from 6-8 p.m. in conjunction with the Little Chicago Downtown Johnson City Music and Arts Festival. Curated by Lyn Govette, the exhibit features works in various media by 10 artists from around the U.S. that encourage viewers to rethink the state of the environment and the impact of human activity on the climate. “The artists in this exhibition have been selected for their unique and diverse ‘lens’ in the ‘remaking’ of forms and installations that look at the issues of environmental decay, capitalist waste, man-made environmental disasters and related issues,” according to Govette. “The field of environmental or activist art has grown considerably over the past decade and has become a significant part of the conversation in our communities both locally and globally.” Artists whose works are included in the show are JoAnna Commandaros, Xia Gao, Elsie T. Hill, Megan Karlen, Kathryn Martin, Michael Messer, Steve Novick, Carrie and Eric Tomberlin and Paul Turano. Tipton Gallery is located at 126 Spring St. In addition to the Aug. 12 reception, the gallery will be open Fridays, Aug. 5 and 19, from 5-7 p.m. and other times by appointment. For more information, contact Govette at 734-330-4356 or Karlota Contreras-Koterbay, director of Slocumb Galleries at ETSU, at contrera@etsu.edu or 423-483-3179
NATIONAL QUILT TRAIL GATHERING COMES TO GREENEVILLE
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reeneville/Greene County will be hosting the 2016 National Quilt Trail Gathering from August 10th through the 13th, bringing with it a tapestry of events related to quilting arts and quilt inspiration, open to the public. The full schedule of events can be found at www.nationalQTgathering.com. When Donna Sue Groves painted a bright green pattern inspired by a “Snail Trail” quilt, on her mother’s barn in rural Ohio, little did she know she would be founding what would become a national folk art phenomenon. The Quilt Trail movement has spread to 45+ states (including east Tennesee and western NC) and into Canada. All independent grass roots projects, each trail has its own goals and unique artwork and approaches. And, organized by the Appalachian RC&D Council (www.arcd.org), they are coming to Tennessee to learn from each other and present their best practices. Tennessee is home to hundreds of quilt barns and downtown quilt blocks. The website vacationaqt.com shows most of the quilt blocks across the state. During the Gathering the public is invited to the world premiere of the documentary Pieced Together, with Peabody-award winning Director/Producer Julianne Donofrio (www.piecedtogetherdoc.com). The film tells the story of Donna Sue Groves, and how, according to Donofrio, “one woman’s love for her mother changed the American landscape and saved her own life while battling with cancer.” The film will screen at the Capitol Theatre, August 11th, 8:00pm ($10, includes dessert bar). The following presentations are also open to the public, at the General Morgan Inn in downtown Greeneville: Merikay Waldvogel, of Knoxville, a published quilt historian, member of the national Quilters Halls of Fame, and one of the key players in the late 20th century quilt history revival, will be the keynote speaker on Friday August 12th, 9:00am ($10). Nationally celebrated storyteller, Elizabeth Ellis will use her “voice like buttermilk” to perform her family’s quilt stories Thursday Aug. 11th, 9:00am ($10). Patricia Mink, director of the Fibers Art program at East Tennessee State University, will give an artist talk on her contemporary quilt work, Thursday Aug 11th, 3:30pm ($10). Artspace4 Gallery is showing her work for the month of August (free). The Greeneville-Greene County History Museum is also showing a special antique quilt exhibit from their collection for the month of August for a small fee. Ohio hosted the first gathering of Quilt Trails from across the county in 2011 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Donna Sue Groves’ first quilt barn and the founding of the Adams County, Ohio, Quilt Trail. “A national gathering has not happened since then,” according to organizer, Emily Bidgood of the Appalachian RC&D Council, “so it is a real honor for Tennessee to host. We have trails coming from Nebraska, California, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, South Carolina, to name a few.” The 4-day long celebration is sponsored by the Appalachian RC&D Council, Tennessee Quilts Jonesborough, Greeneville/Greene County Tourism, the General Morgan Inn, the Greeneville-Greene County History Museum, the Tennessee Arts Commission and the Mary G.K. Fox Foundation. In on the Gathering is found online at: nationalQTGathering.com, and is on social media at facebook.com/FollowtheQuiltTrail. Contact the Appalachian RC&D Council at 423-979-2581 for more info.
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QUEEN OF ROCK ‘N’ ROLL SET TO SHAKE BARTER THEATRE STAGE
“A Night with Janis Joplin” featured for four weeks only
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arter Theatre presents “A Night with Janis Joplin” beginning August 18 through September 10. The production highlights the singer’s legendary musical influences, accentuated by her life and times. Trailblazers like Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Odetta, Nina Simone and Bessie Smith take the stage in “A Night with Janis Joplin.” During this limited four-week run, Kelly McIntyre, stars as the husky voice that shaped an era. McIntyre mesmerizes audiences with more than 20 hit songs including: “Little Girl Blue,” “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Mercedes Benz,” “Summertime,” “Down on Me,” and “Cry Baby.“ McIntyre traveled with the national tour of “A Night with Janis Joplin” and is currently playing to critical acclaim and sold-out crowds at Capital Repertory Theatre in Albany, New York, which coproduces the show. The (Schenectady) Daily Gazette’s Paul Lamar said, “[McIntyre’s] voice, gestures, tone, and even look-in-her-eye summon up the life (and ghost) of this rock icon.” And according to Steve Barnes of The (Albany) Times Union, “A Night with Janis Joplin” is the best nostalgia-act concert to play the area all year.” An unmistakable voice, tinged with raw emotion, Joplin was a must-see headliner from Monterey to Woodstock. Whether an audience is reliving the 1960s or experiencing it for the first time, Barter Theatre is proud to present “A Night with Janis Joplin.” To purchase tickets, please visit bartertheatre.com or call 276-628-3991. Tickets for all performances of “A Night with Janis Joplin” begin at just $20. “A Night with Janis Joplin” is made possible by corporate sponsors Spotless Carpet Cleaners/ Spotless Restoration and Bristol Office Supply. Barter Theatre, the nation’s longest running professional theatre, is located in Abingdon, Virginia. The theatre opened in 1933 during the Great Depression. Founder Robert Porterfield offered patrons admission to the theatre by bartering food and livestock. Barter Theatre was designated as
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Kelly McIntyre appears as Janis Joplin at Capital Repertory Theatre
the state theatre of Virginia in 1946. It exists today as one of the last year-round professional resident repertory theaters remaining in the United States. Barter Theatre is funded in part by The Virginia Commission for the Arts and The National Endowment for the Arts.
Foggy Valley Wedding Farce “For Better or Worse”
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here’s gonna be a wedding at LampLight Theatre. The Foggy Valley Gang is sending out an open invitation for you to come to this uproarious matrimonial ceremony. The Goodin Family will be marrying off their naive youngest daughter, Ura Goodin, to her prospective dim-witted husband, Clovis Bodine. This new mirthful slapstick comedy will premiere in August at LampLight Theatre on Broad Street in Kingsport, TN. The oblivious young couple must overcome some major obstacles (including Mama Goodin) in order to find marital bliss. After meeting both sides of the family, they will quickly come to understand what it means to vow, “For Better or Worse.” Ingenuous Clovis has to muster the nerve to ask the fatherof-the-bride, Spoolie Goodin, for Ura’s hand in marriage. The Reverend Clyde T. Humperdink will guide the innocent couple through their preposterous pre-marital counseling and will be presiding over the nuptials. Mama Goodin is on hand to give her bitter “two-cents worth” of marital advice to granddaughter, Ura. Siblings, Ima and Virgil, come home to help prep for the couple’s big day. An early “get-together” is planned at the Goodin’ Family Funeral Parlor and Wedding Chapel in order for the Bodine Family and the Goodin Family to meet for the very first time. Overprotective parents, obnoxious in-laws, and uninvited guests like Cleopha Blair make for an outlandish fiasco, and all of that before the wedding day. With jealous and egotistical personalities present, mayhem is sure to break out any moment.
Tempers flare and more dark family skeletons fall out of the closet. All is not lost. This contrary union between two unsuspecting sweethearts could bring consolation to some broken hearts. Many lessons are to be learned about life and love. “For Better or Worse” will be presented every weekend, August 12 through September 4, at LampLight Theatre at 140 Broad Street in Kingsport, TN. Nightly performances will be at 7:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, Matinees on Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. and Sundays at 3:00 p.m. Doors will open one hour prior. Admission is a suggested donation of $10 Adults, $5 Students, and FREE for children 5 and under. For reservations and information, please contact the LampLight box office at (423) 343-1766, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or online at www.lamplighttheatre.com.
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Fiddlin’ Carson Peters to Headline Salvation Army Fundraiser
“festival of tables”
--- by Pam Blair
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t’s the Salvation Army’s biggest fundraiser of the year and there’s still time to reserve a seat for the Festival of Tables to be held on August 20th at the Johnson City Country Club. For the fourth consecutive year, the Salvation Army Auxiliary has invited 40 area businesses and individuals to “set the table” for the benefit of local children in need. “You will be inspired and amazed by this year’s festival,” said Auxiliary President Gail Adkins. “In addition to the 40 lavishly decorated tables and a silent and live auction, entertainment will be provided by Fiddlin’ Carson Peters, a 12-year old musical prodigy who has achieved national recognition with appearances on The Tonight Show and Little Big Shots, hosted by Steve Harvey. Topping off the evening will be acclaimed storyteller David Joe Miller, who will spin some tales for the crowd to enjoy.”
Festival of Tables - 2015 “Frozen”
More than 300 guests attended last year’s sold-out event and raised over $15,000 in direct support of the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program that serves residents of Carter, Unicoi and Washington counties. Major sponsors for this year’s festival include Bill Gatton Acura/Mazda of Johnson City and Elizabethton Federal Savings Bank. Viewing for the tables will start at 4:30 p.m., with dinner to follow. Auctioneer David Collins will host the live auction. Tickets are $40 and can be picked up at the Salvation Army office at 204 West Walnut Street in Johnson City, or by contacting Gail Adkins at 423.946.8235 or gnadkins50@yahoo.com.
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Rogersville Arts Council Hosts workshop for Hawkins County
Energizing Your Creative Community for Economic Impact
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lease join us for an interactive workshop focusing on the ARTS & CULTURE in our community! Join us as we share ideas and learn about building an ArtCentric movement using our own assets! Workshop leader, Kimberly Nyberg, will lead the discussion about arts, culture, and how to integrate our community’s artistic assets into everything we do! All artists, musicians, writers, photographers, arts educators, small businesses, community leaders, events planners, venues, and other interested citizens of Hawkins County are welcome to attend! During the 3 hour interactive workshop, attendees will be introduced to several key concepts to grow a sustainable arts movement that enhances the quality of life and broadens the economic base in our community. Topics will include: Defining your own arts and culture; identifying your creative community-what makes it special; growing a solid team; successful examples; starting a movement; (social) marketing; and 25 cool ideas. Kimberly’s passion is finding creative and authentic solutions for communities. With over 28 years of experience, she has worked with a broad range of business owners, property owners, community stakeholders, artists, and government leaders to develop programs and initiatives that bring economic strength to their communities by using existing assets. “Communities across the country are recognizing the importance of local arts and culture as a key component of local economic development, tourism, and quality of life in their communities. This workshop will offer attendees the opportunity to share ideas and learn about building an Art-centric move-
ment based on the existing arts and cultural assets that make up their own community.” said, Kimberly Nyberg A native of Tennessee, Kimberly led the Tennessee Main Street Program during a period of tremendous growth. She’s served as a speaker, leader, coach and mentor to those who devote their time and passion to enriching communities. Kim has also been active with many statewide arts, design, and historic preservation organizations. She captures an audience with her enthusiasm and knowledge of how to generate positive growth in your community’s core. She is currently the executive director of the Madison Area Arts Alliance-a grass roots Arts organization in Madison, Indiana. She renovates historic properties in her spare time alongside her husband, John and two children. The workshop will be held at the Hawkins County Gas Utility Building at 202 Park Boulevard, in Rogersville, starting at 5:30pm on Tuesday, August 23rd, with heavy hors d’ouevres donated by several area restaurants. The Rogersville Arts Council is delighted to bring this resource to the Hawkins County community for only $10 per person. Due to space restrictions and to have enough food, reservations are required by August 16. To make reservations, or for more information, please email rogersvilleartscouncil@gmail.com or leave a message at 423-2930882. “Energizing Your Creative Community for Economic Impact” interactive workshop will be hosted by the Rogersville Arts Council and presented by Kimberly Nyberg, on Tuesday, August 23, at the Hawkins County Gas Utility Building at 202 Park Boulevard, in Rogersville The event starts at 5:30pm on Tuesday, August 23rd, with heavy. All artists, musicians, writers, photographers, arts educators, small businesses, community leaders, events planners, venues, and other interested citizens of Hawkins County are welcome to attend! The Rogersville Arts Council is delighted to bring this resource to the community for only $10 per person. Due to space restrictions and to have enough food, reservations are required by August 16. To make reservations, or for more information, please email rogersvilleartscouncil@gmail.com or leave a message at 423-2930882.
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$10 for Tennessee Residents
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ipley’s Aquarium of the Smokies and Ripley’s Tennessee Attractions announced today that all residents of Tennessee can buy tickets for admission to any of the 8 attractions for $10.00 per ticket from August 15 through August 28, 2016. Special discount price is only good for Tennessee residents with a valid Tennessee ID. “This is a way we can thank Tennessee residents for helping us make Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies and all our other Ripley attractions the most exciting and best attractions not only in Tennessee, but in all the world,” said Ryan DeSear, general manager of Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies. The $10 discounted ticket is available at the following Ripley attractions: Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, Ripley’s Believe It or Not Odditorium, Ripley’s Davy Crockett Mini-Golf, Ripley’s Haunted Adventure, Ripley’s Marvelous Mirror Maze, Ripley’s Moving Theater, Ripley’s Old MacDonald’s Farm Mini-Golf and Guinness World Records Museum. Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies is featuring their first 3-gallery changeable exhibit ‘Pearl Harbor’ and just opened the newly renovated Discovery Center that features a new Million Dollar 3-Story Treehouse, Play Center with Bridges, Slides, Obstacle Course and a new touch jellyfish exhibit. Guinness World Records completed renovations and opened their largest interactive challenge gallery with over 20 interactives, games, challenges and new amazing records throughout. Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium has integrated a new Scavenger Hunt that brings more interactive fun and excitement for all ages. The scavenger hunt
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Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies & Ripley Tennessee Attractions
gives visitors more fun when exploring the wonderful world of Robert Ripley as they tour the odditorium using their smart phones to find items, social shares, goofy polls, funny quizzes and photo ops. Ripley’s 5D Moving Theater is featuring two new shows, Monkey Madness and Happy Feet and Ripley’s Marvelous Mirror Maze has cool new lighting throughout the maze. Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies and Ripley’s Attractions in Tennessee are owned by Ripley Entertainment Inc., keepers of the venerable Ripley’s Believe It or Not! brand and a global leader in location-based family entertainment. More than 13 million guests visit its 95 worldwide attractions in 11 countries annually. The Orlando-based company also has divisions that oversee publishing, licensing and broadcast operations. Ripley Entertainment is a Jim Pattison Group Company, the second-largest privately held company in Canada. Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, the second most visited attraction in Tennessee, has been voted one of the Top 5 Aquariums in the USA & the world by TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice in 2014 & 2015, Top Destination to See Penguins by USA Today and Forbes Traveler named it one of the America’s Best Aquariums. Thousands of exotic sea creatures live in its 1.4 million gallons of water. The aquarium is known for its amazing shark exhibit that features 11-foot sharks and one of the most spectacular underwater tunnels in the world. The aquarium is located at traffic light #5 on the Parkway in Gatlinburg, Tennessee and is open 365 days a year. For information: call 888-240-1358 or see us on the web at www.ripleysaquariumofthesmokies.com.
the mcCLAIN FAMILY BAND @ THE CARTER FAMILY FOLD
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n Saturday, August 13th, 2016, at 7:30 p.m. the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, Virginia, will present a concert of bluegrass music by a long time popular group at the Fold, the McLain Family Band. Admission to the concert is $10 for adults, $1 for children 6 to 11, under age 6 free. Direct from the hills of Kentucky, The McLain Family Band has become internationally known as one of the most spontaneous, creative and spirited groups performing contemporary Appalachian bluegrass music. During the years 1968 – 1990, they performed in all 50 states and 62 countries during 14 international concert tours, some as musical ambassadors of the U.S. Department of State. The McLain Family Band played at the Grand Ole Opry, Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Lincoln Center and the Carter Fold. They were featured at thousands of festivals and concerts and performed as soloists in more than 230 appearances with orchestras. Raymond K. McLain formed the McLain Family Band in 1968 with his son Raymond W. and daughters Ruth and Alice. Mr. McLain was a Carter Family Memorial Music Center board member from the day the center was created. Raymond W. now serves on the Music Center’s board of directors and assists as Artistic Director at the Fold. Raymond K. McLain served for many years as Executive Director of Hindman Settlement School in Knott County, Kentucky. He studied folk music at Harvard and later at the University of North Carolina, then went on to develop and teach the first college courses in bluegrass and in Appalachian Music at Berea College in 1971. His mother, Beatrice “Bicky” McLain, was also a significant figure in American folk music, founding the Southern Regional Folk Life Center at the University of Alabama and serving as its’ first director. For eleven years, The McLain Family Band hosted The McLain Family Band Festival which was featured on NPR’s Folk Festival USA and produced by Ken-
tucky Educational TV for national distribution. Other television appearances include NBC’s Today Show, the CBS Morning News, Good Morning America, the Pearl Bailey ETV Special, the BBC, TNN’s Nashville Now and the Johnny Cash Christmas Special. The McLain Family Band began performing at the Carter Music Center when Janette Carter first began presenting concerts in the old A.P. Carter Grocery in 1974. The family band stopped touring on a full time basis in 1990, but continues give occasional concerts – many of them at the Fold. Raymond’s 40 plus years of entertaining have taken him to performances in all 50 states and 62 foreign countries, including a tour as a musical ambassador of the U.S. State Department. For 21 years with the McLain Family Band, Raymond was featured internationally at thousands of festivals and concerts and as a soloist in appearances with over 230 orchestras. Raymond was with Jim & Jesse’s Virginia Boys for ten years. He currently performs with Canadian harmonica whiz, Mike Stevens. Through the years, the McLains have produced dozens of CDs and records. For some of the best bluegrass music this side of Heaven – and some of the best dancing - don’t miss the McLain Family Band at the Carter Family Fold. Come on out and join us for one of the most memorable musical evenings you can imagine! For more information on the McLains, go to www.mclains.com. For further information on the center, go to www.carterfamilyfold.org. Shows from the Carter Family Fold can be accessed on the internet a www.carterfoldshow.com. Carter Music Center is part of the Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail. You can visit the Crooked Road Music Trail site at thecrookedroad.org. Partial funding for programs at the center is provided by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. For recorded information on shows coming up at the Fold, call 276-386-6054.
theloaferonline.com | August 9, 2016 | 17
Lauren Cole Band to headline Lakeside Concert Series
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usic will fill the air at Winged Deer Park’s Goulding Amphitheatre on Thursday, Aug. 11, when the Lauren Cole Band takes the stage. Showtime is set for 7 p.m. The Lauren Cole Band is a blues-driven rock band from Johnson City. Cole’s dynamic vocal range has captured the attention of audiences in Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina. She is backed by a tight fourpiece ensemble that perfectly complements her vocals. Dom Avento plays the bass, and it’s when he gets out the upright that the fun really begins. Guitarists Joe Avento and Mike Murphy are joined by drummer Josh Shores. The band’s upbeat playlist has made the band an area favorite. The free Lakeside Concert Series takes place at Winged Deer Park, 4137 Bristol Highway, and the Goulding Amphitheatre is off Carroll Creek Road. Sponsors include Bristol Broadcasting, DOTHERT Recording Studios, Johnson City Parks and Recreation, and News and Neighbor. For more information, call (423)283-5815, email jcparksinfo@johnsoncitytn.org or visit www.facebook.com/jcparkstn. This year’s remaining concert schedule is as follows: • Thursday, Aug. 11, 7-9 p.m. – The Lauren Cole Band • Thursday, Aug. 18, 7-9 p.m. – Gospel Night • Thursday, Aug. 25, 7-9 p.m. – Kids Our Age •Sunday, Sept. 11, 6-8 p.m. – Johnson City Symphony
MMC presents “murder for hire”
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urder Mystery Caravan presents an original murder mystery “Murder for Hire” by Wendy Potter Overman and directed by Kathleen Brosenne and Wendy Overman. Murder for Hire is different from most murder mystery shows. Instead of figuring out “who dun it” you get to join bumbling hit man, Calvin Rutledge, played by Sean Read, as he tries to figure out WHO he is supposed to kill. This show is filled to the brim with slapstick physical comedy, quipping one liners and quirky characters. Those rounding out the cast are: Kim McLeod, Camille Poor, Robert DeLozier, and Wendy Overman. Samantha Hensley is stage managing this production. You won’t want to miss this!! The action occurs on Saturday, August 13th at the SmokeHouse BBQ, 1941 Milligan Hwy., Elizabethton, TN. Cost for the dinner/show is $25.00 per person. For reservations call 423-547-7427. Seating is at 6:00 PM.
Sam Gleaves & Tyler Hughes Featured at Heartwood
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he Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail presents Sam Gleaves & Tyler Hughes in concert on Thursday, August 11th from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Heartwood in Abingdon, VA. This concert is part of The Crooked Road Music Series at Heartwood. As a duo, Sam Gleaves and Tyler Hughes pick and sing traditional Appalachian music featuring fiddle and banjo hoedowns, close mountain harmonies, Carter Family-inspired autoharp and guitar, country gospel songs, and lonesome ballads. Their performances also include stories of all kinds & flatfoot dancing. Born and raised in Wytheville, Virginia, Sam Gleaves performs innovative mountain music with a sense of history. Sam carries on the ballads and dance music he learned from numerous mentors in the Appalachian tradition, including Southwest Virginia barber and multi-instrumentalist Jim Lloyd and Western North Carolina ballad singer and storyteller Sheila Kay Adams. Through his songwriting, Sam tells contemporary stories from Appalachia. Sam’s debut record of original songs, titled AIN’T WE BROTHERS, has been featured on National Public Radio, No Depression, Sing Out! and The Bluegrass Situation. Tyler Hughes is a musician, storyteller, square dance caller, and educator from the Central Appalachians. Based in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, Tyler is no stranger to the traditional music that thrives in the southern highlands. Since age twelve, he has been performing close to home and across the east coast. Tyler graduated from East Tennessee State University with a bachelor’s degree in Bluegrass, Old Time, and Country Music Studies. He performs not only as a solo artist, but also with the Empty Bottle String Band. Tyler has appeared on PBS’ Song of the Mountains, NPR’s Mountain Stage, at Jazz at the Lincoln Center, and at the historic Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, Virginia.
Photo by: Josh Saul
The Crooked Road Music Series takes place each Thursday at Heartwood. The series features youth artists each 2nd Thursday and showcases venues of The Crooked Road region each 4th Thursday. These events, along with open jams on the 1st, 3rd, (and 5th) Thursdays showcase Southwest Virginia performers. The Crooked Road Music Series is sponsored by Heartwood, Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. Heartwood: Southwest Virginia’s Artisan Gateway is located off I-81 at Exit 14 in Abingdon, VA, and features food, music, and craft of Southwest Virginia. Admission to the concert is free and donations will be accepted for Crooked Road Traditional Music Education Program (TMEP). More information can be found at The Crooked Road website, www.thecrookedroad.org, and at www. heartwoodvirginia.org. For additional information, please call (276) 492-2409 or email: info@thecrookedroad.org.
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S O LG T P
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- TUESDAY - Aug. 9th -
GUIDO AU’SOME & THE OPEN MIC PLAYERS at O’Mainnin’s Pub RANDY & THE LUGNUTS at Acoustic Coffeehouse 8pm
- WEDNESDAY - Aug. 10th SCOTT TUCKER at Our House Restaurant RIVERS at The Damascus Brewery 7pm OPEN MIC
at The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room 6pm MARK LARKINS at Luke’s Pizza
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- FRIDAY - Aug. 12th -
NEW MEXICO CHEMICAL
at O’Mainnin’s Pub
JAMES MEADOWS
at Quaker Steak & Lube 8pm RAILWAY EXPRESS (Souther Rock, Blues, Old & New Country) at Country Club Bar & Grill
RILEY ANGLEN
at Sleepy Owl Brewery 9pm BOA (Post Rock, Ambient) at The Hideaway
FIELD NOTES, OF SEA & SHORE, MARK WHITE / SCOTTY MELTON & FRIENDS THE CRYPTOIDS at O’Mainnin’s Pub OPEN MIC at Woodstone Deli
UPFOLK / CONDITION OAKLAND at Acoustic Coffeehouse 8pm
- THURSDAY - Aug. 11th EC FRAZIER at Marker “2” Grill 7pm MUSIC MEMORIES
at Full Moon Jam - Bristol Downtown Center THE NEW CONSPIRATORS at Capone’s ADAM MCMILLAN (A little bit of everything) at Rainbow Asian Cuisine 9pm
RONNIE WILLIAMS
at Capone’s
MARCUS BOYD at Jiggy Ray’s 7pm
SUNDOWN BAND (Country)
at Kickin’ Back at King Alley
EXIT 23
at Bristol Brewery 8pm
SOUTHERN REBELLION (Country, Classic Rock, Southern Rock) at Sonny’s Marina & Cafe 7pm BORDERLINE at Marker “2” Grill 7pm ADAM MCMILLAN (A little bit of everything) at Hungry I Apex 8pm FAT CHEEK KAT - 5:30pm MOTEL RODEO - 7:45pm BILLY CRAWFORD BAND - 9:30pm at The Little Chicago Music & Arts Festival - Main Stage PAPER CROWNS - 5pm AMYTHYST KIAH & HER CHEST OF GLASS - 6:30pm CORY JETER SIX STRINGS UNDER - 8pm THE KINDEST PEOPLE - 9:30pm
at The Little Chicago Music & Arts Festival - Nelson Stage CRAZY LIKE LEXI at Our House Rest urant
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RAILWAY EXPRESS
(Souther Rock, Blues, Old & New Country) at Hansonville Bluegrass Barn THE FAT CATZ at The Damascus Brewery 7pm
JIGSAW JANE
at Bristol Brewery 8pm
MCLAIN FAMILY BAND at Carter Family Fold
BETH SNAPP at Brew Rebellion
at Quaker Steak & Lube
at Acoustic Coffeehouse
- SATURDAY - Aug. 13th THE CALAMITY JONES BAND
- FRIDAY - Aug. 12th -
at The Little Chicago Music & Arts Festival - Nelson Stage SHOOTER (Country, Classic Rock, Oldies) at Holiday Inn - Bristol (Exit 7)
OPEN MIC.
at Bone Fire Smokehouse 9pm
at Winged Deer Park Concert Series STUMP TAIL DOLLY at The Hideaway 7pm RYAN WARD at O’Mainnin’s Pub WILL OVERMAN at Bone Fire Smokehouse at Acoustic Coffeehouse
IF BIRDS COULD FLY - 5pm DEREK & MARCUS OF CUTTHROAT SHAMROCK - 6:30pm SAMMY GUNS - 8pm INDIGHOST -9 :30pm
NIGHTSHIFT (Country, Southern Rock, Oldies) at The Show Palace 7pm
ACOUSTIFRIED (Rock n Roll)
MARGO CILKER / JOE KAPLOW
- SATURDAY - Aug. 13th -
FAT CATZ
at Bristol’s Pickin’ Porch
LAUREN COLE BAND (Blues, Rock)
If you or your band are playing in the upcoming week and would like to be in The Spotlight, call in advance to (423) 283-4324 or go online to: theloaferonline.com. Due to last minute cancellations or changes, please call the location to confirm.
at Sonny’s Marina & Cafe 7pm
at Marker “2” Grille 7pm
SOUTHERN REBELLION
(Country, Classic Rock, Southern Rock) at 50 Fifty Sports Tavern UNDER THE TABLE (Classic Rock n Roll) at Sportsman Marina
MARCUS BOYD BAND at O’Mainnin’s Pub
THE BILLY CRAWFORD BAND SUNDOWN BAND (Country)
at Willoughby Ruritan
DOUBLE $HOTT
at Country Club Bar & Grill
CRAZY LIKE LEXI at Jiggy Ray’s 4pm
EXIT 23
Bone Fire Smokehouse
JORDAN BENNETT KIM SMITH at Acoustic Coffeehouse
- SUNDAY - Aug. 14th -
DEMON WAFFLE & LOVE UNIT
IVY ROAD
STAGECOACH (Classic & New Country, Southern
BRANDON ROHR
at Capone’s
Rock, Classic Rock, Bluegrass & Gospel) at Castlewood Eagles THE WHISKEY INCEDENT - 2pm
JP PARSONS & THE AMERICAN BANDWAGON - 3:15pm LAUREN COLE BAND - 4:30pm THESE ARE THE ANGLES - 6pm JV SQUAD - 7:30pm DECADES BLOCK PARTY w/ DJ BREESE
at The Little Chicago Music & Arts Festival - Main Stage CORN BEEF & THE HILLBILLIES - 2pm KRYSS DUAL & FRIENDS - 3:30pm
at Marker “2” Grille
at Sonny’s Marina & Cafe 4pm
JEFF LANE ANNIE ROBINETTE JAMEN DENTON at Studio Brew MICHAELA ANNE at Bone Fire Smokehouse
HULTMAN & BARB SONGBOOK at Acoustic Coffeehouse
- MONDAY - Aug. 14th -
OPEN MIC at Acoustic Coffeehouse
Spotlight Directory 50 Fifty Sports Tavern 2102 N. Roan Street Johnson City Bone Fire Smokehouse at the Hardware 260 W Main St Abingdon Va 276/623-0037 Bristol Brewery 41 Piedmont Ave Bristol VA 276/608-1220 Bristol VFW Post 6975 14 16th St. Bristol TN 423/764-0381 Bristol’s Pickin’ Porch 620 State St Bristol 423/573-2262 Capone’s 227 E Main St Johnson City 423/928-2295 Carter Family Fold 3449 A. P. Carter Hwy Hiltons VA 276/594-0676 Country Club Bar & Grill 3080 W State St Bristol 423/844-0400 Down Home 300 W. Main St. Johnson City 423/929-9822 Eagles Club 1097 Boody Rd. Castlewood Va 276/762-9837 Elizabethton Moose Lodge 288 Lovers Lane Elizabethton 423/542-5454 The Harvest Table Restaurant 13180 Meadowview Sq Meadowview Va 276/944-5140 The Hideaway 235 E. Main St Johnson City 423/ 926-3896 Holiday Inn (Exit 7) 3005 Linden Dr Bristol Va 276/466-4100
Holston River Brewing Company 2621 Volunteer Pkwy Bristol TN Hungry I at the Apex 604 W. Market St. Johnson City Jiggy Ray’s 610 E. Elk Ave Elizabethton JRH Brewing 458 W. Walnut St. Johnson City 423/ 722-3410 Kickin’ Back at King’s Alley 156 E. Jackson St. Gate City VA 276/386-3831 Laurel Marina 191 Shady Ford Rd. Bristol 423/ 878-3721 Marker “2’ Grill at Lakeview Marina 474 Lakeside Dock, Kingsport 423/323-4665 The Mustang Lounge 1516 N. Broad St. Tazewell VA Northeast State Community College 2425 Highway 75 Blountville TN O’Mainnin’s Pub 712 State St Bristol 423/844-0049 Our House Restaurant 4903 N. Roan St. Johnson City 423/ 282-1555 The Outdoorsman 4535 Highway 11W Kingsport Painter Creek Marina 766 Painter Creek Rd Bristol TN 423/878-5775 The Pinnacle Pinnacle Parkway, Bristol TN Quaker Steak & Lube 629 State St Bristol VA 276/644-9647 Rainbow Asian Cuisine 2412 N. Roan St. Johnson City 423/ 232-6688
KARAOKE TUESDAY Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Boomershine’s Pizza Karaoke w/ Marques at Painter Creek Marina Karaoke at 50Fifty Sports Tavern Karaoke At Numan’s - Johnson City TN *********************** WEDNESDAY Karaoke w/ Southern Sounds Karaoke at American Legion 8pm Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Smokey Bones - Johnson City TN Turn the Page Karaoke At VFW Post 2108 - Johnson City TN *********************** THURSDAY Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Macado’s - Kingsport Karaoke At Numan’s - Johnson City TN Karaoke At Holiday Inn - Johnson City TN Karaoke at Jiggy’s Rays Pizzaria Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Mellow Mushroom - Johnson City ***********************
Rock’s Wood Fired Pizza & Grill 3119 Bristol Hwy. Johnson City 423 / 262-0444 Show Palace 14364 Lee Hwy Bristol VA 276/494-6610 Silver Spur RR 6 Gate City VA 276/ 452-2664 Sleepy Owl Brewery 151 E. Main St. Kingsport 423/390-8476 Sonny’s Marina & Café 109 One St. Gray TN 423/283-4014 Stir Fry Café 125 Broad Street Kingsport 423/343-9424 Wellington’s Restaurant Carnegie Hotel 1216 W State of Franklin Rd Johnson City 423/979-6400 Willoughby Ruritan 5145 Marvin Rd Bulls Gap VA The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room 216 E Main St Johnson City Winged Deer Park 4137 Bristol Hwy Johnson City 423/ 283-5816 Yee Haw Brewing Company 126 Buffalo St. Johnson City
FRIDAY Karaoke w/ Southern Sounds Karaoke at Sportsman’s Bar & Grill 9pm Karaoke w/ Reverb Karaoke at The Cottage 8:30 pm Turn the Page Karaoke at VFW Post 2108 - Johnson City TN Karaoke At Elizabethton VFW - Elizabethton TN Karaoke w/ DJ Marques At Holiday Inn (Exit 7) - Bristol VA Karaoke At Numan’s - Johnson City TN *********************** SATURDAY Karaoke at The Horseshoe Lounge Turn the Page Karaoke at VFW Post 2108 - Johnson City TN Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment At Macado’s - Kingsport Karaoke At Numan’s - Johnson City TN *********************** SUNDAY Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment At Biggie’s Clam Bar *********************** theloaferonline.com | August 9, 2016 | 21
the casual word By Langley Shazor
Follow Langley on FB & Youtube at TheCasualword
Roy G Biv Seeing is believing The eye Made up of millions of neurological receptors Color cones transmit data from one end of the spectrum to the other Binary information Translated to visual stimulation Acute sensory perception Projects those images We perceive to see the Mind’s Eye The truth is out there But it depends on your view We all see things a bit differently The microscopic structural anomalies Don’t render the subject less real But the only way to see anything Is to make certain Your eyes are open
appearing at Acoustic CoffeeHouse Sunday August 14 from 8-10PM
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ultman and Barb are on the road from Erie ,PA playing swing, bluegrass and eclectic pop on the way. The duo has great vocal harmonies while playing guitars and banjo. The group plays a wide range of American music and has a motto “ Music Tailored to Your Wishes”. Come out and hear Bill Monroe, Bob Wills, Buddy Holly, Louis Prima, Gene Autry , J Cash, Hank and more surprises
Enjoy Relaxing, Light Chillin’ At Studio Brew’s and Easy Listening Music “Sunday Afternooner Music Series” with Family and Friends
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erving Premium Craft Beer is normal at Studio Brew. What is new? We are serving up an outstanding music component on Sunday Afternoons from 5:00 pm to 7:30 beginning on August 14th. “The Sunday Afternooner Music Series!” To kick off this sequence we are offering a Singer/Songwriter Event hosted by Jeff Lane (“Hundred Acres” and Real Life Heavies” bands) joined by the haunting and lingering melodies of Annie Robinette and then for the first time in a very long time… merged with the incredible music of Jamen Denton (“Virginia Ground” and “Wise Old River”). “…Occasionally, one can visit a singer songwriter gathering and perhaps enjoy one or two of the performers. On August 14th, this night will offer the tri-cities’ cream of the crop of the area’s headliners, composers, performers and just about any category one can imagine! Hosted by Studio Brew and Jeff Lane, featuring Annie Robinette and special performer, Jamen Denton. ” Bill Bryant of CWAC Promotions. This beautiful venue is a multi-level establishment offering tasty and cleverly crafted brews, scrumptious food submissions and bottled wine designed to tickle the taste buds. “Up the Stairs” patrons will delight in a beautiful setting generously decorated with sofas, dartboards and now even a pool table. However, one can still belly up to a beautiful bar and enjoy music in a wonderful old town setting! “This event kicks off what promises to be, a picturesque and blended partnership of many varied art forms. This time artfully crafted beer with artfully crafted music.” Erich Allen, owner operator of Studio Brew.”
Jamen Denton
Annie Robinette
Jeff Lane
theloaferonline.com | August 9, 2016 | 23
PERSEID METEORS PEAK THIS WEEK
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When you wish upon a star, Makes no difference who you are Anything your heart desires Will come to you. Ned Washington
Meteors are the icing on the celestial cake that is enjoyed by both novice and experienced stargazer. In the brief burst of a needle of light are sewn the human thoughts that have transcended through antiquity to your very own backyard. Everybody’s favorite night of “shooting stars” peaks this Thursday, Aug. 11, and admission is free! So pull up a piece of backyard and enjoy the celestial fireworks. The always reliable Perseid Meteor Shower is predicted to be extra special this year as Earth passes through a thicker part of the comet debris that creates this beautiful sky show. Just one of the two dozen meteor showers that occur each year, the Perseids are just like all the others: cosmic debris that Earth is smashing into while traveling in its solar orbit. This meteor shower is caused by the remnants of Comet Swift-Tuttle that are strung out along its elliptical orbit around the Sun. Predictably each year our planet’s orbit intersects with the path of tiny grains of rock, many no larger than grains of sand. What isn’t predictable is how thick the cosmic debris will be and when the Earth will be plowing through the rich part of the particle stream. As each grain of “meteoroid” strikes the Earth’s atmosphere at around 30,000 mph, friction instantly vaporizes it into light energy and we see a “meteor” streak across the sky. Nearly all meteors burn up in the atmosphere, filtering down to the surface and adding an incredible 10 tons of cosmic debris on Earth—every day! Those meteoroids the size of a fist or larger have a chance to survive the abrupt impact of Earth’s gas layer and make it to the ground. Pick up in our hands they become “meteorites.” If you actually saw an impact and could pick up the meteor in your hands, you might be surprised to know it would probably be cold to touch and not hot because of the frigid journey it’s made for possibly millions of years in the Solar System. It’s hard to believe that 20,000 pounds of cosmic debris lands on earth each day, but it does. We obviously don’t see most of the meteors because they are so faint at night and invisible in the day. And remember that two thirds of our night sky is over the ocean and what happens is unseen. More meteors are seen after midnight than before because our part of the world is then heading into the direction of our orbit around the Sun. It’s like looking out the front of a traveling car during a snowstorm—more snowflakes are hitting the front windshield than the back or side windows. As we travel into a snowstorm, you notice how the snow looks like it is coming from one direction ahead of the car. That’s like a meteor shower coming out of one point of the sky. With car headlights on at night, this effect of a “radiant point” is even more apparent. Thus, the Perseid meteors look like their radiant is out of the constellation Perseus the legendary Greek hero. The Leonids of November come out of Leo the Lion and the Geminids of December have Gemini as their background from which they seem to emanate. The best way to observe meteors is with your eyes. And you are likely to see “sporadic” meteors on any night at any time. Meteors are so quick—lasting a fraction of a second— that binoculars and telescopes are useless. Sure, stargazers have seen an occasional meteor steak through the eyepiece, but that’s a rare and wonderful sight! Watching meteor showers is the most laid back of all stargazing events. Literally. The usual equipment is a lounge chair with plenty of refreshments and snacks within arm’s length! The main requirement is avoiding any “white” light that will wreck your dark adapted eyes. It takes 15 minutes or so for your eyes to fully adjust to the dark of the night, your pupils dilating to allow in more light. Red light (and green) doesn’t contract the pu-
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Perseid Meteors by Matt Harbison pils, so they are the preferred light source to check charts, see your equipment or make sure you don’t trip over your dog! If you put your head to the east and feet to the west, you’ll see most Perseid meteors fly over you as the constellation Perseus rises in the east after midnight. An hour might yield 2030 meteors, but there will be an unpredictable burst of up to three or four meteors a minute when Earth plows through the thickest part of the stream of debris left by Comet Swift-Tuttle. Just when that peak time of the most meteors will occur is just a guess, and the best bet is the hour before twilight begins on Wednesday morning, Aug. 12. There are sky charts in books and on the Internet that you can copy and use to trace the meteors you see against the constellation. That way you can see your own radiant from where the meteors came out of the sky. You can see meteors any time, even in the day if they are bright enough. Those nighttime bursts are always a pleasure to see, and bright ones always elicit and “ohh or ahh” from those seeing them. Of course, many sky watchers what to record a meteor shower with their cameras. It’s a lot easier than it used to be with the supersensitive digital cameras of today. But you need a little luck of pointing the camera at the right place at the right time with the shutter open to a long, 30 second exposure. And to get a beautiful photo like that shown in this Stargazer column takes the incredible talents of Chattanooga astrophotographer Matt Harbison. Matt’s awesome impression of last year’s Perseid Meteor Shower was taken in Fall Creek Falls Park in Tennessee and is a composite of many images taken that night. Meteors are one of our night-time wonders that connects humans with the mysterious Universe. Where did this cosmic intruder come from, and where was it going before it smacked into Earth? The very essence of the great cosmic question—is there life in the Universe? —can be contained in one alien grain of rock. Now, that’s something to wish upon
Celestial events in the skies for the week of Aug. 9th-15th 2016, as compiled for The Loafer by Mark D. Marquette.
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his is the week of the famous Perseid Meteor Shower, and you might briefly see up to 200 an hour before sunrise on Friday morning Aug. 12. Hot August nights have us realizing that Summer is losing its grip on daylight and night-time is gaining. And that makes stargazers happy! True daytime, from twilight to twilight, is now around 14.5 hours. That’s an hour different from those late June evening memories.
Tues. Aug. 9
Venus and Mercury are setting by 8:45 pm in the evening twilight in Leo the Lion, and nearby is bright Jupiter at the border of Virgo the Virgin. The giant planet sets at 9:30 pm after dominating the Spring and Summer. Don’t forget Mars and Saturn in Scorpius to make all five naked eye planets visible in one night!
Wed. Aug. 10
First Quarter Moon is tonight, setting after midnight. On this 2001 date in space history, STS-105 with orbiter Discovery blasted off the Florida East Coast and four astronauts delivered a cargo hold full of supplies to the ISS and continued installing life support equipment during two space walks. captured by dish antennas thousands of miles away.
Thurs. Aug. 11
The Perseid Meteor Shower peaks tonight, and though the Moon is a bright gibbous phase in the after midnight sky, the brightest meteors will still poke through. Earth continues until Aug. 23 traveling through the debris field of comet Swift-Tuttle, whose particles we see burning up in our atmosphere. On this 1962 date in space history, the USSR launched Vostok 3 with cosmonaut Andrian Nikolayev, who took the first color movie footage from space. The next day Vostok 4 was launched with Pavel Popovich aboard, and the two space fliers saw each other’s spacecrafts from a distance and communicated with each other in this space spectacular.
Fri. Aug. 12
Sat. Aug. 13
The gibbous Moon is beautiful in the constellation Ophiuchus the Serpent Handler. Below it is Sagittarius and to the right is Scorpius with Saturn and Mars.
Sun. Aug. 14
If you want a peek at the Autumn skies, see the Great Square of Pegasus in the northeast at midnight with Taurus and The Pleiades star cluster right behind. At midnight the Milky Way is standing beautifully overhead.
On this 1960 date in space history, NASA launched the first communications satellite, a gigantic Mon. Aug. 15 The bright Moon heads for full phase on Thursday, but you’ll balloon called Echo 1 that orbited Earth after being rocket off Cape Canaveral by the first Delta rocket. Radio waves were bounced off the successfully inflated, 100-foot Mylar balloon surface and still see the brightest Perseid Meteors blast through the moonlight.
theloaferonline.com | August 9, 2016 | 25
The Ross Family: An Irwin Allen Production
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oes the name Irwin Allen mean anything to you? If you’re a student of pop culture, or if you grew up in the ‘60s, I bet it does. Even if that name doesn’t ring a bell, odds are good you’ve encountered something produced by Irwin Allen in your lifetime. Irwin Allen had two distinct phases to his career. In the 1960s, Allen was the king of fantasy/sci-fi TV series. “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea,” “The Land of the Giants,” “The Time Tunnel,” and “Lost in Space.” That’s how I know the man’s name, as I would come in from school and watch reruns of “Lost in Space” on the sci-fi channel. During the ‘70s, Allen became the king of the disaster movie--his two biggest hits being “The Poseidon Adventure” and “The Towering Inferno.” Why do I mention this? Because for the last few weeks my life has had moments that seem orchestrated by Irwin Allen. I wish to stress that all parties involved are doing A’OK. Heath has returned to us all, and I’m not making light anything truly tragic. All of my family are in good spirits, with no one in one of those boxes where you can only communicate with a blinking light like Captain Pike on that one episode of “Star Trek.” (Play the Andy Ross drinking game! Take a shot each time he references a vintage TV series--you’re up to five!) The Ross Family endures things with humor, that’s how we are, that’s how we function. We quote “Christmas Vacation” year ‘round, and we never take things too seriously. This was very handy, when a few weeks
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ago, my father was in the hospital for some tests. My aunt, who was staying with me while she was in town from Clarksville, woke me with an urgency to tell me that my father had been taken to the hospital. I wasn’t up, as being the creative type, I like to stalk jazz clubs till the wee small hours. Where the gin is cold, and private detectives are just waiting to punch someone on the jaw--like an episode of “Peter Gunn.” (DRINK!) I was in that haze that morning brings, where you’re still trying to process all that is going on. Once I had my coffee, I got myself together and went over to the hospital. My parents were in a good mood. My father was sitting up in the hospital bed, smiling, wearing one of those darlin’ little gowns. “I’m gonna be fine, don’t you worry about me” he said, “you just be sure to tell old Shep that I’ll be home soon. He can still plow that back field all on his own. We’re gonna finally get us a piece of that bottomland.” None of this is true, I just like the colloquial picture it paints. Dad squared away, the rest of that day was spent answering phone calls, running errands, and keeping everyone together. The next morning is when things got really crazy. I was awoken again by my aunt, who was in a panic, to tell me that my young cousin was now being taken to the hospital. He had taken a bad tumble while skateboarding, and they wanted to check him out head to toe. My Aunt, bless her, is the side of the family my anxiety comes from. When she panics, she does it beautifully. She was running back and forth through the halls of my house like Pac-Man (hmm, video game reference. Does it count? Survey says…...no! Darn. Wait, “Family Feud” reference! DRINK!). As I got my aunt calm, I again got ready, then took her over to the hospital. The cousin was fine, he wasn’t as bad as everyone thought. After leaving my aunt with him, I went up a floor to see how my dad was doing. Good spirits still abounding there, so I went about with another day of phone calls, errands, facebook messages, food runs, and everything else you can imagine being the non-hospitalized family member comes with. On the third day, this bizarre new “Twilight Zone” (DRINK!) I was living in came knocking right on my door, when I found myself in the throes of panic at the homestead. “Hmm, hash browns would be awfully good this morning” is what was on my mind as I tossed a few potatoes into the microwave and hit the potato button. Having a par-cooked potato to work with can make hash browns a bit easier in the morning. However, here’s the funny thing about my microwave, the potato button was programmed by George R.R. Martin. I heard a BEEP BEEP BEEP of a smoke detector, and ran into a kitchen full of smoke coming from my microwave. There was no flame, thankfully, but let’s just say I managed to make my potatoes that should have been in my tummy, a budgeted cremation product. I acted swiftly--with mild panic. I opened all the windows in the kitchen, turned on a fan, and ran around waving magazine around to move the air. The smoke cleared, and I plunked down on my couch and pondered what all had transpired. I Then decided to febreeze the hell out of my home. This, my friends, is why I began to wonder if my life, and indeed the lives of my loved ones, had been orchestrated by Irwin Allen. Thing after thing just kept happening. Again, I’m super thankful all are well, but for a moment there I thought my sanity was surely going to leave me. As if I would be reduced to a life of wandering the streets singing “Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin’” over and over. Fortunately, this was not to be. See you next week.
The GLOW Run 5K lights up Northeast State
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et your glow sticks, glow-paint, and anything else to light up the night when Northeast State Community College hosts the 5K GLOW Run race on Friday, Aug. 26 at the Blountville campus, 2425 Highway 75, next to Tri-Cities Regional Airport. Race start time is 7:30 p.m. Runners can register and get entry packets the day of race between 5:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. The race registration fee is $20 before Aug. 25 and $25 on the day of race. All runners who register before race day receive an event T-shirt. Participants will be fitted with electronic B-tag result timers via We Run Events. Participants can register now at the www.werunevents.com website. The race course follows a new route that incorporates the Hurley Fitness Trail at the Blountville campus. The course is a double loop 5K entirely on the Northeast State campus. There are a few hills on the fitness trail, but the rest of the course should be flat and fast. Runners can adorn themselves in their best fluorescent fashions, paint up with some illuminating neon colors, or accessorize themselves with fluorescent face paint and glow sticks. All race participants also receive a GLOW Run t-shirt. Runners will be registered in age brackets with GLOW Run trophies, ribbons, and medallions awarded to first-place winners in each category. The runner decorated with the most “glow” will get a $100 gift card to Dick’s Sporting Goods. Sponsored by the College’s Honors Program, the GLOW Run supports the College’s Because of You campaign, a weeklong event of activities dedicated to raising money for student scholarships. All race entry fees and proceeds will benefit student scholarships at Northeast State. Come on out and enjoy a night run at this awesome race! For more information, contact jbhoneycutt@NortheastState.edu or 423.354.2596. theloaferonline.com | August 9, 2016 | 27
Jason bourne (4 action heroes out of 4)
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hen it was first announced that Matt Damon was cast as Jason Bourne in a new series of action films, I was shocked. Could the actor, who at the time, was best know for his roles in “Good Will Hunting” and “The Talented Mr. Ripely” pull it off as an action hero? Boy did he ever. In fact, that was the last time I doubted the Hollywood casting machine. Now I take the “wait and see” attitude, and for the most part this proves wise. After viewing “The Bourne Identity” in 2002, I became a huge fan of the “Bourne” films, thanks to the talents of Damon and director Paul Greengrass. The “Borune” series made over $1.3 billion and left fans wanting more after the 2007 release “The Bourne Ultimatum”. Alas, due to Greengrass not agreeing to return for the 4th film, fans were left with the lackluster 2012 release “The Bourne Legacy” starring Jeremy Renner. Flash-forward to 2016 and fans are treated to the reunited Damon and Greengrass in “Jason Bourne”. Needless to say I was one happy camper when Damon agreed to as Bourne, and I hit the theater with much excitement. For movie fans unfamiliar with the series, Damon stars as the title character, a trained assassin, who broke his connections with the CIA, and was sought after by the organization to bring in or kill. All three previous films deal with attempts to catch and/or kill Bourne, and in the third movie he finally meets his “creator”, but manages to escape at the conclusion. In the new film, Bourne’s co-hort Nicky Parsons (Julia Stiles) has uncovered some additional information about our favorite assassin, and when she contacts Bourne to get him the sensitive information, the action kicks into high gear. As per usual with films in the “Bourne” series, there are
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plenty of thrilling chase sequences, amazing fights, and spectacular stunts. However, this being 2016, technology has advanced since the former films, and Bourne’s ability to remain elusive becomes even more challenging. Thankfully, Mr. Bourne is still able to stay one step ahead of the CIA, and eventually comes face to face with CIA director Robert Dewey (Tommy Lee Jones), in a showdown that is made even more exciting by the head of the CIA Cyber Ops Division head Heather Lee (Alicia Vikander). The film features a subplot involving the head of a huge social media empire, and nasty villain Christian Dassault (Vinzenz Kiefer), who is extremely upset with Bourne. Damon revisits the character as if he just finished the previous three films, and his supporting cast, while great, never overshadows the reason fans are flocking to this film: Damon. The locations for the film range from Las Vegas to Greece, and hearing Moby’s “Extreme Ways (Jason Bourne)” again in the closing credits is the equivalent of hearing the 007 theme. If you are a fan of the series, or new to the “Bourne” films, I highly recommend “Jason Bourne” as a way to beat the summer heat with an exhilarating action film. (Rated PG-13)
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The Allison Bailey Stewart Interview
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ho do you envision with a huge smile on their face every time they come to mind? One of my top 5 is Allison Bailey Stewart. If you grew up in Kingsport, you either know her, her family or someone who does. No seven degrees of Kevin Bacon needed here. Bottom line is you need to get to know Allison because of who she is and how involved she is in the region we all love so much. Take a few minutes to read this one, you will be glad you did. BRIAN: We have known each other longer than either of us will ever admit, but for folks who don’t know you, what was growing up in this region like through your eyes? ALLISON: Well, yes I won’t admit it either! Growing up in our region was what I would say simple. We enjoyed the seasons and being able to spend time on the lake in the summer or skiing in NC in the winter, and I loved being able to play outside most of the year, we went to our community church, and as a family we laughed, loved, and of course feuded a little. So through my eyes it was a wonderful place to grow up. BRIAN: Dance, Dance, Dance it has been a part of who you are and your family since I have known you. What has it been like to grow up so involved and now to see your daughter doing so well? ALLISON: Dance was my life...and still is a huge part. My mother owned and operated Academy of Dance Arts my entire life and one of her studios was in our basement. So I had dancers at my house everyday they rode the bus home with me after school, we spent weekends dancing in town and out of town, and then of course Kingsport’s Showtime which brought the community into our dance world. For me it was the friendships I made over the years...lifelong friendships from the time we started dancing together age 4 till present day. And for Sara and her dance...I am enjoying watching her grow into the dancer and young lady she is becoming. Dance is a disciplined art and I am very proud that she loves it and wants to dance. And I must admit...I do have a little dance mom in me at times too. BRIAN: A huge part of growing up here is how deeply engrained faith is as part of our lives. I know you have grown up in a family where faith is emphasized. How has that shaped you and your day-to-day life? ALLISON: I come from a family that their (our) faith is strong...There were 5 generations of us (women) and that’s where my faith grew. Watching my great grandmother Libby, she always prayed for every family member and people she knew well and people she didn’t know, she always gave thanks and counted her joys, blessings, and stayed strong no matter the circumstance, and her commitment to helping others through her love of God and believing and trusting in HIM. I believe that her faith was instilled in my grandmother, mother, and myself. And of course I hope that in my life I will continue to show the love and faith that she did. BRIAN: You have phenomenal kids! I believe if you want to learn what kind of person someone is, look to their children for the answers. You and Jerry have every right to be proud of them and I want you to brag on the kiddos a little bit. ALLISON: Oh my...Thank You so much! First, parenting is hard as you know... Jerry and I were both young when we became parents and as all parents know it’s NOT an easy job but I love it! We are very proud of all 3 of them; Stephanie just graduated from ETSU (currently looking for a job), Sam is about to begin his 2nd year at ETSU and he can’t wait to get back on the baseball field. GO BUCS! And Sara is a 7th grader and she spends many hours in the studio dancing. So we are very proud of them and we continue to pray for guidance and wisdom as they
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grow older. BRIAN: This is my final question and most people probably already know you in this capacity. You are a fantastic realtor and you market for your clients very well. Tell folks who might not know about your work whatever you want them to know like how they can find your listings and get in touch with you. ALLISON: Well, I love real estate! It has been a great career choice for me and my family. I love the idea of guiding and helping a first time home buyer or a family move into a their new home and or selling their current home. It’s an exciting process and can be challenging but the outcome is well worth the challenge. You can find me at brphomes.com and I also have a facebook page: Allison Stewart, Realtor Blue Ridge Properties Thank you Brian
Walking in Wickford
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egotiating the Northeast Corridor by car is a distinctive experience, made memorable for the deteriorating infrastructure, abundance of tollbooths, and the most gnarly traffic this side of Bangladesh. This hellscape is not without the occasional reprieve, however. The more observant traveler might notice that somewhere along the stretch that links Boston to New York City are a few exits that mark passage through a place called Rhode Island. Blink and you’ll miss it, as you can drive across the entire state in under half an hour. But it would be your loss, as you would certainly miss out on the hidden gem of Wickford. (NOTE: excessive blinking while driving is not particularly safe, so I don’t endorse it.) Back to Wickford, though. This seaside village in southern Rhode Island isn’t really trivial in the sense that I normally aim for in these columns, but it IS easily overlooked, which is a shame given that, in addition to quaint little shops and art studios, you can see one of the finest collections of 18th-century homes to be found anywhere in North America. It’s not a big place. But what it lacks in size, it makes up for many times over in relevance. The inspiration for John Updike’s, The Witches of Eastwick, Wickford is the quintessential sleepy New England village, and
has been for centuries. It was originally settled in 1637, which if my math is correct, is only 17 years after the arrival of the Mayflower. In the centuries since, the area has been home to such noteworthy figures as pioneer Roger Williams, painter Gilbert Stuart, and renowned columnist (and all-around great guy), Brian McManus. Not bad for a place with just a few hundred residents. Walk the streets of Wickford and you will notice that several of the homes are marked with dated plaques, many from the 1700s. In fact, the village’s oldest home dates back to 1676.
Smith’s Castle, so known for its defensive fortifications, is one of the few houses not still in private hands. Indeed, most of the historic homes you see there are private residences, still lived in to this day. Thank the British for that – the area escaped the American Revolution largely unscathed. So at the risk of treading toward cliché, Wickford is something of a living museum. The surrounding area has grown over the years, especially with the opening of the nearby Naval Air Station Quonset Point, but the original village remains largely intact. It’s only 20 minutes from Newport and there is parking aplenty. Of course, if you can’t make it this year, that’s probably OK. I have a feeling that Wickford will be around for awhile.
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Dollywood Theme Park
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Photo and article by
In what seems like the blink of an eye, the summer is alreadyover. The heat may be here for another month, but the school buses have begun rolling, football is approaching, and vacations have been completed. Dollywood Theme Park continues to see record attendance, however, despite the noticeable absence of this year’s premier attraction. In fact, guest levels are so high this year that the park recently added more days to its calendar, staying open on Tuesdays throughout the Smoky Mountain Christmas festival this coming December. For those who have never visited the park, nowwould make the perfect time to visit. August and September see a significant reduction in crowds before the fall colors attract throngs of leaf peepers in October. The tourists also thin out noticeably in November, but then visitors don’t have the options of riding the water rides or stopping by Dollywood’s Splash Country. Whenever the time of year, a trip to the park should be unforgettable and therefore requires just a bit of planning on your part to make sure you get to experience everything. With last year’s addition of DreamMore Resort, Dollywood has transitioned from a one day park to a fabulous resort where you could spend an entire weekend and still not see everything. Throw in Dixie Stampede and the newly-opened Lumberjack Adventure and the opportunities expand even further. Dixie Stampede is by far our favorite dinner theater in Pigeon Forge, although that might change when we have the chance to visit Dolly’s newest show up the road! For those who have never visited the park, a few tips and tricks can help to spare you a lot of hassle in the long run. If you decide to stay at DreamMore Resort, which we highly recommend, you can take advantage of the trolleys which leave for both parks every twenty minutes. If you are just arriving for a day trip, you can save a few bucks by parking at Patriot Park in Pigeon Forge and taking the five minute trolley ride over to the park entrance. Itonly costs fifty cents per person, and sure beats waiting for the crowded trams in the parking lot. Your interests will dictate your strategy for exploring the park, so it’s a good idea to decide whether you are more interested in rides, shows, or sampling some of the delicious treats the various shops and restaurants have to offer. If Lightning Rod is open when you make your trip, by all means head directly there as soon as you enter the park. Waiting times averaged over an hour every day we were able to ride it, and at peak times it can even exceed three hours. Not only is it the fastest wooden coaster in the world, it also holds the record as the tallest, reaching over twenty stories in height.Even if there is a wait, by all means be patient, because it is by far the best ride the park has now! For the other coasters and thrill rides, it is best to head to the back of the park and work your way towards the front. Mystery Mine and Fire Chaser Express tend to get the longest lines, while Thunderhead and Wild Eagle typically have the shortest. On any hot summer day, the water rides usually have significant wait times, but usually are a walk on otherwise. If you are here for shows, look no further, as Dollywood has repeatedly won the Golden Ticket Award for best show park, beating the likes of Disney with their amazing performances. Each festival has its own unique shows, so no matter when you visit there is always something new! This year the park will be showcasing the new Christmas show, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” that replaces the award winning “Christmas Carol” show in the Celebrity Theater. Dreamland Drive-In is one of our all time favorite shows, and takes place in the revamped fifties area at the Pines Theater. Food and shopping at Dollywood are a reason to visit all on their own. Renowned for such favorites as the Grist Mill Cinnamon Bread, Dollywood’s food it unbeatable. Aunt Granny’s is our choice for the best all-you-can-eat buffet in the state, although the loveable antics of “The Chicken Lady,” at Ms. Lillian’s restaurant are not to be missed either! Craftsman’s Valley and Rivertown Junction serve as the main shopping districts, where you can catch the latest fashions or purchase amazing souvenirs made by local artists at the glass shop or forgery. Pottery, candles, jellies and jams, leather, and all other sorts of items can be purchased at the unique shops which line the valley. Sometimes you may even help to make them yourself, or just stand and watch the master craftsmen create a masterpiece.
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Jonesborough Welcomes
Mountain Musician David Holt
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our-time Grammy Award winner David Holt, a musician and storyteller based in North Carolina, will be the next performer in the International Storytelling Center’s acclaimed Storytelling Live! series. Holt, who has been part of the storytelling movement that started in Jonesborough since its earliest days, is best known as a folk musician. From touring with the iconic bluegrass guitarist Doc Watson, to hosting several TV series on PBS, to his role in O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Holt has, time and again, proven himself to be a consummate entertainer. In addition to the work he’s done in the public eye, he’s spent much of his career behind the scenes, knocking on the doors of old folk musicians scattered throughout the mountains of Appalachia—a pursuit he started decades ago, when he was just getting started as a musician himself. “I felt like I’d stumbled on a lost world,” Holt says. “These people were born in the 1870s, 80s, and 90s. I didn’t have an agenda other than to learn from them. No one ever turned me away. I was, and still am, truly interested, and I think these folks could sense that.” It was during these private sessions that Holt realized how deeply embedded storytelling is within the world of folk music. “Mountain music really grew out of people’s lives, so stories are a big part of it,” he says. Part of his own storytelling repertoire these days is not just the songs, but also the stories he has learned from the many mentors who took him under their wings. Holt’s upcoming performances in Jonesborough will include a week’s worth of matinee concerts running August 16 – 20, Tuesday through Saturday. All performances begin at 2:00 p.m. sharp in the Mary B. Martin Storytelling Hall. Tickets are just $12 for adults and $11 for seniors, students, and children under 18. Walk-in seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis, but advance purchase is strongly recommended. Ticketholders for all performances can present their ticket stubs for a 10 percent discount on same-day dining at JJ’s Eatery and Ice Cream or Main Street Café, two popular eateries in Jonesborough. The latest performer in ISC’s renowned Storytelling Live! series, Holt will be followed by another storyteller each week through the month of October. Information about all performers, as well as a detailed schedule for 2016, is available at www.storytellingcenter.net. The premier sponsor of Storytelling Live! is the Mountain States’ Heart & Soul program. Additional
funding comes from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Tennessee Arts Commission, the East Tennessee Foundation, Eastman Credit Union, the Mooneyhan Family Foundation, the Niswonger Foundation, and Massengill-DeFriece Foundation, Inc. The International Storytelling Center is open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. For more information about Storytelling Live! or to make a group reservation, call (800) 952-8392 ext. 222 or (423) 913-1276.
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Answers on page 36
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pets of the week
Rosie is a 2 year old Beagle mix. She just had a litter of puppies also at the Bridge Home. She was just spayed and fully vaccinated. She is a sweet and friendly dog!
Millie is a 7 month old hound mix. She is spayed and fully vaccinated. She is child, house and dog friendly. She is an energetic bundle of fun! The Bridge Home has an ongoing aluminum can can collection in front of the shelter at 2061 Hwy 75 in Blountville,TN 37617. The cans are collected by a volunteer and the money from the aluminum goes towards badly needed food and supplies for the animals
The Bridge Home No Kill Animal Rescue has started a pet food pantry for people that have had financial hardships because of job loss or medical problems and are struggling to feed their pet. They can come by the shelter and get cat or dog food to get through the tough time. Donations can be sent to The Bridge Home Shelter PO Box 654 Blountville, TN 37617 Every animal in their care is spayed or neutered and fully vaccinated before being adopted. Being a non profit the shelter is funded entirely by membership dues and private donations. They always need volunteers or monetary donations. Other always needed items:pet food, cat litter & cat toys dog treats & dog toys,paper towels, cleaners, office supplies,Purina weight circles. Phone: 423.239.5237 Hours are Mon-Fri 12pm-6pm Sat 12pm3pm and Sun 2pm-4pm. Website is www.bridgehomerescue@gmail. com or like them on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/bridgehome theloaferonline.com | August 9, 2016 | 35
things to do
Do Something BIG Bringing Hope Through Mentoring: Big Brothers Big Sisters
Have you ever wondered how you can do something BIG to make a difference in the life of a child in need? Sometimes just having someone to talk with can turn a path of hopelessness into one of survival. That’s one of the compelling premises behind the work of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Tri-Cities. Spending 2 to 4 hours a month with an atrisk youth can help them improve in school, their behavior and their self-esteem. Our local Big Brothers Big Sisters office is part of one of the oldest and largest youth mentoring organizations in the United States. It’s a system that has been proven to work and transforms the lives of children who might not otherwise ever get the support they need to grow and successfully meet life’s challenges. Child-volunteer matches are made based on in-depth and comprehensive interviewing with parents, children and
potential volunteers. Stringent safeguards are in place to assure that all parties are safe. Volunteer and parent engagement and training also play a big role. Anyone wanting to find out more about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Tri-Cities should contact the office by calling 423-247-3240, or visiting TennesseeBig.org.3, 2016. Free. Info: www.folkheritage. org or (828)258-6101 x345.
Still Life Painting Class, Taught by Donna Bird
Wednesdays 6-8pm July 13 - August 31 $25 per session This class will cover basics of still life painting in this casual once a week “drop in” class. Discover the beauty of painting still life with oil or acrylics as we work through the elements of a painting including: studies in basic drawing, direction of light, value, mixing
color, design and proportion. There is a lot to learn! Donna Bird moved to East Tennessee in 2008 and has established herself firmly in the arts community. As the manager of Art in the Heart Gallery she holds a BFA in Graphic Design and has continued to pursue her love of painting through classes and workshops with local and nationally known artists Art in the Heart Gallery 246 Broad Street Kingsport, TN 423-480-9702 www.EngageKingsport.com
Arts Council and presented by Kimberly Nyberg, on Tuesday, August 23, at the Hawkins County Gas Utility Building at 202 Park Boulevard, in Rogersville The event starts at 5:30pm on Tuesday, August 23rd, with heavy. All artists, musicians, writers, photographers, arts educators, small businesses, community leaders, events planners, venues, and other interested citizens of Hawkins County are welcome to attend! Computer Classes @ The Rogersville Arts Council is the Jonesborough Lidelighted to bring this resource brary 10:00 – 11:00 am to the community for only $10 The Jonesborough Library per person. Due to space rewill offer a series of computer strictions and in order to have classes in August: enough food, reservations are Aug. 12 - Android Basics required by August 16. Aug. 19 To make reservations, or for iPad & iPhone Basics more information, please email Aug. 26 rogersvilleartscouncil@gmail. Introduction to Social Media com or leave a message at 423These classes are free and 293-0882. open to the public. Space is limited and registration is required. To register, please call the Jonesborough library at 753-1800.
Cryptogram: No person is your friend who demands your silence, or denies your right to grow. Drop Quote: “Money is human happiness in the abstract. He, then, who is no longer capable of enjoying human happiness in the concrete devotes himself utterly to money.”
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Workshop….August 23 ETSU to host special “Energizing Your Creative event focused on preCommunity for Economic Impact” interactive workshop will scription drug abuse be hosted by the Rogersville epidemic
East Tennessee State University will host a special event Friday, Aug. 12, to showcase activities underway at its Center for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment, which was created this spring through the approval of the Tennessee Board of Regents. The event, co-sponsored by Mountain States Health Alliance, will include discussions about the prescription drug abuse epidemic plaguing our region as well as the Center’s ongoing efforts in research, prevention and outreach. It will also feature special guest speaker Sandy Swenson, author of “The Joey Song: A Mother’s Story of Her Son’s Addiction.” Swenson, who lives in Austin, Texas, is the mother of two sons – one of whom struggles with addiction. In addition to her book, Swenson shares her journey as a mother of an addict through her blog (www.sandyswenson. com) and by traveling around the country for speaking engagements. The event will take place at 11 a.m. on Aug. 12 in Meeting Room 6 of the D.P. Culp Center on the ETSU campus. It is free and open to the public. For more information, call 423-439-4325. For disability accommodations, call the ETSU Office of Disability Services at 423-439-8346.
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**N&N Photography Model Call** Phone: 423-956-0820 Model Call: We are looking for 2 models, one male 18+ and one female 18+. No modeling experience needed. The male for an edgy masculine portrait shoot, the female for a glamour portrait shoot. Your shoot will take place on a weekday at a local outdoor public park/ venue in the Tri- city Tn area.
theloaferonline.com | August 9, 2016 | 37
Rimfire Rifle Series Pt. 2 Mossberg 702 Plinkster
L
ast week we looked at the Savage 64F, today we discuss one of its primary competitors, the Mossberg 702 Plinkster. There are several similarities between the two rifles, but quite a few differences as well. First let’s discuss the similarities, The Plinkster comes standard with a black synthetic stock, but like the 64F is also available with a walnut stock or even a pink camo stock. It also comes standard with a detachable 10 round box magazine. There are a few differences between the 64F and the Plinkster, some are good and some are not so good. One advantage the Plinkster has over the 64F is that Mossberg makes a 25 round magazine for the Plinkster whereas the 64F is limited to 10 rounds. The plinkster also has a more sophisticated adjustable sight system similar the sight system on the world famous CZ 512. This allows for finer target adjustment and increased marksmanship. Sadly, there are a few not so good differences, as I’m sure you recall the 64F is made in Canada, the Plinkster is made in Brazil. However, it is important to note that while not made in the U.S.A. the Plinkster meets Mossberg’s very stringent quality standards. Mossberg has a reputation for being an American company, don’t be too hard on them. The truth is if the Plinkster was made in the U.S.A. the price would likely be significantly higher, and the difference in quality would be minimal. Another noteworthy difference between the 64F and the Plinkster is that the Plinkster doesn’t have nearly the same versatility as the 64F. As I’m sure you recall the 64F had several barrel options including fluted and bull barrel, sadly the Plinkster has only the single barrel option. But perhaps if the Plinkster continues to do well Mossberg will develop other barrel options. Another advantage the Plinkster has over the 64F is ergonomics, as I’m sure you’ll notice if you handle both of these rifles is that the Plinkster is simply more comfortable to hold. The 64F is very streamlined with more of a classic rifle feel, whereas the Plinkster is more rounded and as you’ll see has a very unique look. The Plinkster has an 18-inch barrel instead of the standard 21 inch, but accuracy is not effected. It also comes in at only 4lbs which is less than the average 5lbs for synthetic rimfire rifles. While the MSRP on the Plinkster is slightly higher than the 64F coming in at $190.00 the sight system alone is worth the extra $30.00 not to mention the potential to upgrade to 25 round magazines. While my first semi-auto .22 rifle was the 64F if you’re in the market for a first .22 rifle for yourself or as gift I highly recommend the Plinkster due to its lighter weight, shorter barrel, and enhanced sight system. On a side note the walnut stock version of this rifle is gorgeous. As always I hope you enjoyed this article if you have any questions or concerns please feel free to email me, I look forward to your feedback. Sources: http://www.mossberg.com/product/mossberg-international-702-plinkster-37001/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mossberg_Plinkster
38 | August 9, 2016 | theloaferonline.com
107 Services
professional makeover, 2 finished images on a dvd disc and the experience to be a model for a day! Email us today to reserve your space!
63 Community
Tri Cities Ladies Only Board Game Group - 423-609-575 This is a Meetup group for ladies either bi, lesbian or straight who are serious about playing board/card games. We want ladies who will actually attend game nights. The goal of the group is for ladies to meet, get to know each other, form friendships while playing different types of games: Cards Against Humanity, Masquerade, Nanuk, Coup, Cash N Guns, Dixit, One Night Ultimate Vampire, Smart Ass, The Game of Baloney, The Game of Things, Salem: A Card Game of Deception and Exploding Kittens. Little Chicago Downtown Music and Arts Festival Volunteer POSITIONS AVAILABLE - Whether you just have a helping attitude, or you need
service hours, WE NEED YOU! Earn an Event Shirt; there are plenty of shifts and locations available to work with any schedule. Visit http://www. littlechicagofestival.com/volunteers to help in any way you can.
137 Transportation 1999 Mazda Miata for sale Price: $ 1,600.00 Needs some work. Black on black. 131,000 miles. $1,600.00. Call 423-833-2095
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SUMMERING WITH THE CRITERION COLLECTION
I
have spent perhaps an inordinate time this summer enjoying several films from the Criterion Collection, thanks to another long-awaited half-price sale of these titles at Barnes and Noble. Each summer I look forward to this sale and am happy to report the addition of several new movies to my waytoo-large collections (but, how can a movie collection ever be too large?). The Criterion Collection was founded in 1984, and after going through several convoluted changes in ownership, its considerable library is now distributed by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. We are fortunate that this collection has maintained its high standards through all this transfer of ownership hoopla and still remains perhaps the best and most attractively presented set of movies on the planet. Each volume contains extensive supplemental material, an informative booklet, and now very impressive Blu-Ray transfers. Although you can enjoy much of this prestigious collection on the Criterion YouTube channel and on Hulu, the supplemental material is not available on these formats. However, I must say I very much enjoy watching this stuff on my phone. Of course cineastes (another word for “film snobs”) are horrified that someone might be watching a movie on any screen other than one installed inside a darkened movie theatre. These are the high-brow people who make distinctions between “movies” and “film.” Needless to say, these people are not much fun to be around. I didn’t know until recently that Criterion is responsible for some of the features we now take for granted on video discs. For instance, the company introduced us to letterboxing, commentary soundtracks, special editions, and advanced film restoration techniques back when its stock in trade was laserdiscs. While the firm is best known as a purveyor and preserver of “art house” films, it also has given us some very attractive edition of “movies” like one of my favorites, the 1958 super B-grade thriller, “The Blob,” about a large mass of red jello that threatens the world (or at least a local movie theatre and diner in a very small town). This juicy little entry (advertised as “82 minutes of concentrated motion picture terror, in bloodcurdling color!”) features not one, but two audio commentaries, and includes a booklet that places the movie in the historical context of the Cold War era by clueing us in to the fact that the quivering mass of red jello is in reality a stand-in for Russian Communism, poised to take away our freedoms. So, what have I been watching this summer? Following is a listing of some of my Criterion favorites, which I hope will soon be on your favorites list as well, if they haven’t already found their way there. First up is “Persona,” Ingmar Bergman’s enigmatic 1964 study of a mute actress and her nurse. This film, like most of Bergman’s output, is regularly listed as one of the world’s best, but don’t let the accolades (and the opinions of those pesky cineastes) distract you. This is a real feast for the eyes, and lends itself to multiple interpretations. And it reminds you of why movies are such a big deal. One of my favorite movies is David Lynch’s “Mulholland Drive” (2001), which forms a trilogy with “Blue Velvet” (which cries out for the Criterion treatment) and “Lost Highway.” This movie, which was originally intended to be a “Twin Peaks” companion for TV rather than movie theatres, is not a treat for those who
want clear-cut plots and story lines. I’ve watched this movie several times and still have no idea what it is about. But for me that constitutes its charm. And it has never looked better than on this Criterion Blu-Ray special edition. If you think Woodstock is the quintessential Sixties rock concert, may I suggest your watching D. A. Pennebaker’s 1968 documentary, “The Complete Monterey Pop Festival”? In so many ways this is way better than the more familiar Michael Wadleigh documentary about Woodstock, released two years later. Pennebaker’s film puts you in the audience and gives you front row seats to performances by Jimi Hendrix, Otis Redding (who sadly didn’t live enough to make it to Woodstock). A companion movie that also captures what it was like to be alive in 1968 is Haskell Wexler’s “Medium Cool,” a thought-provoking and innovative account of the riotous and violent 1968 Democratic Convention; in it, Wexler placed actors in the midst of the actual convention. A must-see in light of this year’s tumultuous and unpredictable Presidential campaign. A large boxed set covers movies from a very important, innovative, and gamechanging period—the 1970s—and showcases movies made by the infamous BBS production company. Entitled “America: Lost and Found” this set includes culturedefining movies like “Easy Rider,” “Head” (the subversive movie starring The Monkees), “The Last Picture Show,” “Drive He Said,” and “Five Easy Pieces” (perhaps the best movie of the 1970s), and my favorite Tuesday Weld flick, “A Safe Place.” Thanks to the half-price sale, I have received proper introductions to two of the best film noir movies from the 1940s and early 1950s—“In A Lonely Place” (1950) directed by Nicholas Ray (of “Rebel Without A Cause” fame) and “Gilda” (1946), directed by Charles Vidor. Both movies, like most other film noir entries, paint a bleak portrait of humans on the brink of self-destruction, and these two do that by showcasing Humphrey Bogart, Rita Hayworth, Gloria Grahame, and Glenn Ford. Mike Nichol’s generation-defining portrait of “The Graduate” (1968) has long waited for the Criterion treatment. The wait is over in this wonderful Blu-Ray presentation, filled with extras, including two audio commentaries, interviews, and documentaries. Two of my favorite horror movies (although some would dispute that description), have just been released on Criterion—Nicholas Roeg’s 1973 thriller, “Don’t Look Now,” and Brian DePalma’s 1980 tribute to Alfred Hitchcock (aren’t all his movies tributes to Hitch?) “Dressed To Kill.” Both look great in Blu-Ray and, as expected, come jam-packed with tantalizing extras and essay booklets. The last film on my list is Whit Stillman’s 1998 bittersweet portrait of the Disco Era, “The Last Days of Disco.” Featuring outstanding performances by Kate Beckinsale and Chloe Sevigny, this movie is an intimate portrait of a generation that still haunts us. And the music never stops, filling every scene with echoes from a not-too-distant yet nearly-forgotten past. I could go on and on with movies from summers past that I didn’t include on this list, but this column is only so long. I encourage your to discover or rediscover the joys of the Criterion Collection for yourself. See you next week. theloaferonline.com | August 9, 2016 | 39
40 | August 9, 2016 | theloaferonline.com