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on the cover
Holiday Gift Guide
Publisher Luci Tate Editor Graphic Arts Director Don Sprinkle Cover Design Bill May Advertising Patti Barr Paul Kavanaugh Janie Jarvis Lori Howell
Contributing Staff Jim Kelly Andy Ross Ken Silvers Mark Marquette Brian Bishop Daniel Worley Jason Worley 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 adcopy@theloaferonline.com 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 and subject matter thereof. The agency and/or advertiser will indemnify and save the publisher harmless from any lossof 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 Let’s Get Social!
columns & reviews
Office Coordinator Amanda Lane
26 Stargazer Moon Men & Mars Journey Reality 25 Skies This Week 30 Batteries Not Included How To Gift Wrap 32 Pop Life Coco 34 Appalachian Wanderers Zoo Knoxville 40 Puzzle Page 43 Kelly’s Place Evocative Objects Go To The Movies
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your week’s line-up
Volume 32 • Issue #1
The Loafer's Gift Guide Intercity Ballet presents The Nutcracker Art Depot Open House & Members Exhibit Blountville Christmas Festivities Ugly Sweater Party Tour Of Homes ETSU Jazz Ensemble to present Hark the Herald Angels Swing LampLight Theatre presents A Midwinter's Carol Let's Swing - A 1940's Christmas Party JCSO collecting for Toys for Tots Jonesborough Student Film Festival Prohibition for the Paws John McCutchenon Returns AMEn's Christmas Concert Ed Gerhard plays Northeast State Spotlight Christmas Cookie Contest Willow & Wood plays Acoustic Coffeehouse Kil'n Time Wins Merchants Window Competiton The Angry Italian opens on Sixth Street License Plate To Show Regions Pride Outdoor Survival Basics @ Bays Mountain Park Paramount Partners Pets Of The Week Things To Do
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LET THEGuide LOAFERYou To Great Gifts
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very year your erstwhile Loafer staff does their best to find a wide range of gifts that can make you the toast of Christmas morning. This year we have a really wide range, from a very nice boat at Wake to Wake to $5 ornaments at Kiln Time. And everything in between. Browse our list and see if you can’t find a couple good suggestions for the folks on your list. We found interesting items for golfers, tattoo aficionados, cave explorers, Poinsettia lovers and almost everyone else. As you review our guide, be sure to check out the merchant’s ad in this issue. In addition to a featured gift item, these places have a myriad of options for virtually anyone on your list. With a little exploring and investigating, you can definitely emerge as a Christmas hero.
Bristol Health Store
Improve your Laundry Wool Dryer Balls (good for 1,000 loads) Soap Nuts (anti-bacterial, hypoallergenic; pulls the oils from fabrics) Normally $42.99; Loafer Gift Guide Special, get the combo for only
$37.49
Appalachian Caverns Kids of all ages love cool stones The gift shop at Appalachian Caverns Has a huge and varied selection Now through the holidays get 10% off On all gift shop merchandise Plus see the discount coupon on their ad in this issue.
Absolute Granite and Cabinetry
A gift for the whole family A new kitchen! Give Absolute Granite a call.
Country Club Of Bristol Give the gift of a Country Club Membership Golf all of 2018 for only $179 No green fees, just cart rental with a Bronze Membership. Call or visit the Country Club of Bristol for details.
Epic Ink
Need a gift for the tattoo lover? Stop by Epic Ink and get a $100 gift certificate for only $75 Can be used for any service .... New tattoo, freshen up an existing one or get some body jewelry.
Bristol Golf Club Give the Gift of Golf Get 12 rounds for $100 Use throughout 2018 Limited time only Golf Club of Bristol Formerly The Cedars
FJ Torbett Plant Farm
Poinsettias Make Great Gifts. Get One for Yourself Too! Available in 5 different colors Includes pot, cover and bow. Many sizes and price ranges. Stop by and pick out the one you want.
Battle Machine V12 Mod-C V-Energy 9.6V Charging Unit 1 Year Warranty For Limited Time Only
Studio Brew
Buy a case of beer from our gift shop and receive a $15 gift card to use on your next visit – or gift it forward!
Only $179.99
Hardy’s Jewelers
The Perfect Stocking Stuffer Diamond Earrings Only Several Styles and Colors Available $
1999
per pair
The Alternative Sport Holston River Brewing Co.
Give the Gift of Beer Glass Growler Sale and it comes full of beer. Only Reload on Tuesdays for half price! Holston River Brewing Co.
Perfect Paintball Starter Kit Tippmann Gryphon FX semi-auto paint ball gun 200 round loader, 2 pod harness. 9 0z CO2 Tank Helix Thermal Goggles
All for only $159.99 While supplies last
$15
Wake to Wake Watersports
Kil'n Time
$5
A gift for the entire family. Discount Winter Pricing. Excellent financing options available. Visit Wake to Wake Watersports
Ornaments
Gift Cards Available for All Products and Services Fire Up Someone's Inner Artist!
West Main Antiques
For your plant lover these little terrariums are a wonderful gift. No two are alike making them the ultimate one of a kind and unique gift. Your family, friends, or sweethearts will love it, we promise!
Mountain Air Vapors
Vaping Supplies Make Great Gifts The ELEAF Basic is a practical gift Normally $31.95 Loafer Gift Guide Special While supplies last
$25
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GSF Airsoft
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Intercity Ballet presents the 38th Anniversary of
The Nutcracker
Coming to Kingsport will be Megan Buckley and Gregory Brown, both of whom have danced with the Metropolitan Opera.
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egan, originally from St. Louis, Missouri, received training with Alexandra Ballet pre-professional company. There she performed full length ballets by Marek Cholewa & Rosanna Ruffo and other choreographers. Megan trained at Joffrey Ballet in the Trainee program and with Nashville Ballet School under scholarship. She has danced with Milwaukee Ballet 2, Portland Ballet in Maine, Verb Ballet in Cleveland. Megan won a 1st place at the National Society of Arts & Letters-STL. Gregory born in Illionois began dancing at twelve years of age, and at sixteen was awarded a full scholarship to the Houston Ballet Academy. He has danced with Houston Ballet II, Texas Ballet Theater, Ballet X, and Radio City’s Chirsmas Spectacular. Gregory recently published a work titled A Dancer Descended Mt. Kenya, a story of faith of his serving in Rwanda and climbing Mt. Kenya. He will be performing the role of Snow Prince. Again joining Intercity Ballet this season will be Brian Murphy. Brian has danced with Ohio Ballet, Ground Works Dance Theater, Cleveland Ballet, San Jose Ballet, Nashville Ballet, Ballet Met to name just a few. He currently dances with Verb
Ballet. Brian will be dancing the roles of Coffee (Arabian) with Ashley Henrickson, and Cavalier with Megan Buckley. Joining Gregory as Snow Queen, will be Intercity Ballet’s own Hallie Miracle Looney.Hallie first began dancing with Centre for the Performing Arts at the age of 4 and now is part of their teaching staff. Hallie has studied with the Nashville Ballet in their summer programs for the past two years, where she was awarded entrance into their advanced program. Intercity Ballet Theatre of Kingsport, with the help of area sponsors such as Eastman Chemical Company, Eastman Recreation Club, WKPT AM, WTFM, Blue Ridge Properties and Hampton Inn will present it’s 38th Annual Performance of the magical ballet, THE NUTCRACKER for all to see and enjoy. This year Christmas will come just a little bit early for 4,500 area school children at the morning shows at Eastman’s Toy F. Reid Employee Center Theater on December 7th 8th at 9:30 a.m. These special performances will be presented free of charge, as they have been for the past eleven years, to all area students and teachers, with additional seating for the public at a nominal fee.
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The public is invited to enjoy the evening performances on Friday, December 8, 2017 and Saturday, December 9, 2016, at 7:30 p.m. Join us and experience a snow storm, see a forest magically appear, and a tree grow from 10 feet to 30 feet, all inside the Eastman Theater. Membership in Intercity Ballet Theatre of Kingsport is open to all area dancers. Each year dancers from all over the area come to the annual audition for The Nutcracker. This year our production will have a cast of over 160 dancers and actors from six different regional schools, along with many adult community leaders and business people. Dorothy Hanner Ratcliff, a native New Yorker, is Artistic Director of Intercity Ballet of Kingsport. Ms Ratcliff studied dance with the American School of Ballet, Ballet Arts, Robert Joffrey, Tour Jete International in Cannes, France and graduated from the New York School of Performing Arts with a major in Ballet and a minor in Modern and Drama. Dorothy has danced professionally throughout the United States and Canada, and was a member of the world famous Radio City Music Hall Rockettes. She has taught dance and choreographed events throughout the Southeast and now is director of the Centre for the Performing Arts. Local dancers giving their time and talent include, Phil Clemons, dancing the role of The Nutcracker with Colin Rose as Brigidier. Ella Halliburton and Rachael Cartmel, will be sharing the role of Clara, with Kaylie Joyner as understudy. Anthony Hathaway will be dancing the role of Fritz, with Micah Lawson as understudy. Dancing the role of Mecanical Doll will be Jessica Gallimore and the role of Devil Doll will once again be presented and danced by Mollie Kate
Blalock, Daryl Conrad, Aaron Jackson and Abby Lester. Tree Fairies will be Hannah Brickey, Sara Stewart with Chloe Rose joining them in the role of Dew Drop Fairies. Dancing the role of Reed Pipes will be Kihley Bellamy, Jacquelyn Crawford, Hannah Halliburton, Taylor Hubbard and Madison RiceThe role of Spanish will be dance by Abby Bright. The roles of Clara's parents will be shared by Jeff Luethke and Kristen Looney, with the role of Grandfather byDarrell Duncan. Daniel Ratcliff will be performing the role of the ever popular Rat King and will be adding the role of Mother Ginger. Mr. Mike McGinn will reprise his role of Uncle Drosselmeyer. Dancing the role of Trepak will be Gracie Blevins, Rhiley Goddard, with Abby Lester as understudy. Chinese will be Isabella Blevins, Dakota Buckingham and Phil Clemons, Tickets for the evening performances will be on sale beginning November 18th at Blue Ridge Properties, Civic Auditiom and at Eastman’s Toy F. Reid Employee Center. Reserved seating will be sold for the Orchestra floor of the theater while the Balcony tickets are festival seating. If available, tickets may be purchased at the door. For more information about Intercity Ballet Theatre and The Nutcracker school performances, public performances, or ticket sales, please visit our web site www.intercityballet.org or call 246-2199. This year’s celebration of the 38th anniversary of The Nutcracker is sure to be memorable. Former dancers and families are invitied to a special recognition at the end of the Friday evening performances. This is a holiday tradition that the whole family can enjoy together. Come be a part of the holiday magic that is The Nutcracker.
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Open House and Members Exhibit The 28th Annual Members Show and Art Sale will be on exhibit at the Arts Depot in Abingdon, VA through December 20th.
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embers of the Depot Artists Association will display more than 100 pieces of original works throughout three galleries. This is an excellent opportunity to support local artists and to purchase beautiful, one-of-akind gifts or gift certificates for the holidays. The Arts Depot’s Holiday Open House will be held from 6-8 pm on Thursday, December 7th. The evening event is in coordination with Abingdon’s “First Thursday Gallery Hop.” Be our guest and enjoy refreshments, a glass of wine served to those over 21 and the sounds of the season performed by pianist, David Collins. On Saturday, December 9th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. complimentary photos with Santa will be offered at the Depot in partnership with our neighbors, Highlands Union Bank. Bring the whole family and have a free photo taken with Santa on his sleigh! Mrs. Claus will serve sweet treats and drinks. Christmas crafts and coloring stations will be set up for kids to enjoy. On Saturday December 16th at 1 pm, the Abingdon-based band, Stravàigin, (meaning wanderer) will be in concert. Straváigin offers a wandering repertoire of traditional Irish and Scottish folk music combined with a variety of stirring marches, jigs, reels and moving slow airs on the Great Highland Bagpipe, shuttle pipes, and Scottish small pipes. The roots of Appalachian music run deep in the rhythms and harmonies of the Scots-Irish who brought their music to America. Concert goers will enjoy traditional treats and refreshments. The Arts Depot has is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and by appointment. All events are free and everyone is welcome. For further information about exhibits, classes, resident artists or other offerings and activities at the Arts Depot call (276) 628-9091, E-mail abingdonartsdepot@eva. org, or visit the Facebook page or web site at www.abingdonartsdepot.org.
“One Special Town… Two Special Trees” Want to ring in the Christmas Season with family and friends? Do you have a special someone you would like to remember at Christmas? How about an old-fashioned Christmas Parade right here in the heart of Sullivan County? Historic Blountville is the place to be! Traditional Tree Lighting Ceremony
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his year’s festivities will begin with the traditional Historic Blountville Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony in front of the old Sullivan County Courthouse at 6 PM on Thurs., Dec. 7, 2017. Chris McIntosh of WJHL will preside as Master of Ceremonies, and special guests include Rep. Bud Hulsey, District Attorney General Barry Staubus, along with Sullivan County Mayor Richard Venable who will do the honor of lighting the town Christmas tree, a massive thirty-foot blue spruce that adorns the front lawn of the historic courthouse. Christmas carols and other special holiday music will be brought by the Blountville Middle School Choir under the direction of Darren Malcolm. A special rendition of "Silent Night" will be presented by Assistant District Attorney Emily Hutchins on violin along with Carolyn Barry on flute. Continuing last year’s theme of “One Special Town… Two Special Trees”, the ceremony will include the traditional tree lighting of the beautiful 30-foot Douglas fir in front of the courthouse, and a second tree lighting by the Hope for Victims Support and Advocacy Group in remembrance of victims of violence. Area residents are encouraged to participate by bringing an ornament in honor of family members lost to violence. Victims Remembrance Tree Organizer Joan Berry said, “It is in remembrance of everyone that has lost a loved one to homicide. Holidays can be extremely sad for families who have lost a loved one to violent crime. The remembrance tree gives families from East Tennessee the opportunity to do something special for their loved ones.” Food vendors will be offering hot chocolate and a variety of other items including hamburgers, hot dogs, barbeque, funnel cakes, deep fried oreos, nachos, chili cheese fries and other.
Tours of the Old Deery Inn
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he Old Deery Inn and Museum will be open from 1 PM to 4 PM on Sat., Dec. 9. The historic inn will showcase its own 1800s Christmas tree and period Christmas decorations. Docents in period attire will be on hand to lead the tours. Such an exciting way to ring in the holidays with your entire family!
Blountville Ruritan Annual Christmas Parade
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othing says it better than a parade! Join us at 2 PM, Sat., Dec. 9th for the Blountville Ruritan Annual Christmas Parade on the main thoroughfare through Blountville. The parade route will line up at Keystone Drive, and proceed on Great Stage Road, ending at the Sullivan County Courthouse. Those wishing to participate in the parade should line up at Keystone Drive at 1 PM. Participants are asked to have a Christmas theme on floats or vehicles. There is no registration fee, and anyone may participate.
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Historic Blountville Christmas Festivities
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Ugly Sweater Party
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It Must Be the Holiday Season! 99.3 the X and Holston River Brewing Company host the Year’s First Ugly Christmas Sweater Party with musical guest, Silent Rival. By Paul Kavanaugh
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ou know you’ve got one! Dig it out and wear it to the Brewery on Saturday night. Whether you got
it from Grandma or Aunt Esther, that ugly Christmas sweater you own could win you a nice prize. Plus, you’ll feel right at home with all the other ugly sweaters sure to be on display! The music will be captivating as well. Silent Rival brings their alternative rock act to the main stage at 8:00. They are out of LA and are on the Listen Loud Records label. The band has an unusual way of describing themselves: Experimentation precedes evolution. In chemistry, disparate elements clash, collide, collate, and combine into new formulations. The same goes for music. This is Silent Rival. Welcome to our world. We can’t wait! This will be a great show, and you’ll be surrounded by ugly sweaters – what more could you ask for? Oh, yeah. Great beer and food in a nice atmosphere. Its happening on Saturday at the Brewery. See you there!
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The Tour of Homes is a well-known Junior League "signature event;" a special fundraiser that typically occurs once or twice a decade.
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his year's Tour of Homes coincides with Kingsport's Centennial. Many of the homes on the Tour were built for visionaries of what Kingsport could be and how it should be developed. Businessmen, architects, builders, and financiers occupied these homes, raised families, and most certainly- entertained. Visitors flock to these homes for several reasons: to experience Kingsport's rich architectural history and to get ideas about decorating their own homes for the holidays. There are six homes on the Tour this year, many constructed in the early 1900s, but a couple in the fifties. They are beautiful examples of historic homes gracefully adapted for a new era. All of the homes, of course, have their own stories - and several even have a surprise or two to reveal! We hope you will join us December 9 & 10 for this fun, fascinating look back at Kingsport's history - and maybe even get a little Christmas shopping done, too! During the Tour, the Junior League of Kingsport's new children's book, "Experiencing 100," a historical look at Kingsport through the eyes of a child, will be available for purchase. This book is the official Kingsport Centennial children's book, and all proceeds benefit the Kingsport Centennial Park, as well as, projects of the Junior League of Kingsport. Copies of the Junior League of Kingsport cookbook will also be available for purchase. Tickets are $35 and go on sale Sunday, November 5 at the Women of Impact reception at the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce from 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM. Tickets will also be available from Junior League members, at Junior League headquarters, and online at www.jlkingsport.org
“
The Loafer is my go to souce for live music happenings across the Tri-Cities." Amy M.
theloaferonline.com | March 28, 2017
Hark the Herald Angels Swing
ETSU Jazz Ensemble to present
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"Hark the Herald Angels Swing” is the theme of the fall jazz concert to be presented by the East Tennessee State University Department of Music on Friday, Dec. 8, at 8 p.m. in the D.P. Culp University Center’s Martha Street Culp Auditorium.
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he ETSU Jazz Ensemble and special guests will perform swinging big band arrangements of favorite Christmas and holiday songs, as well as jazzy takes on memorable movie and television themes. The Jazz Ensemble will be joined by Wayne DeLano on saxophone and Jessica Henry on trumpet, along with ETSU jazz faculty Dr. Randy Sanderbeck on percussion, Jason Day on piano and Mike Baggetta on guitar. DeLano is a graduate of the University of North Texas jazz program and a former member of the famed One O’Clock Lab Band. He toured with Woody Herman, Maynard Ferguson and Chaka Khan, and is featured on over 100 albums and performed with many world-renowned jazz artists. As a saxophone player, DeLano has earned “Outstanding Performer” awards at numerous jazz festivals. Henry is currently pursuing her doctorate in music performance on trumpet with minors in music education and jazz studies at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. Originally from Pittsburgh, she holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in music performance from Indiana University. She has studied with several notable performers and educators, and has performed as a freelance musician in Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Chicago, Cincinnati and Louisville.
The ETSU Jazz Studies program is designed for students who desire a career path performing in contemporary genres and working as professionals in various fields in the music industry. Through the study of jazz theory and improvisation, which is the basis for most popular styles of music, graduates of the program will be well prepared for the wide variety of opportunities that exist in the rapidly evolving world of music. Tickets are $10 for general admission, $5 for seniors and students and free for ETSU students with ID, and are available in advance at www.etsu.edu/music and in the Department of Music office, 100 Mathes Hall, as well as at the door. For more information, contact the Department of Music at 423-439-4276 or music@etsu.edu. For disability accommodations, call the ETSU Office of Disability Services at 423-439-8346.
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December Brings Victorian Christmas Musical to LampLight Theatre
“A Midwinter’s Carol"
Step back in time to Victorian England and celebrate Christmas at LampLight Theatre. A Midwinter’s Carol is a Christmas musical presented in traditional Victorian fashion. The story is inspired by Little Peter: A Christmas Morality for Children of Any Age, which was published in 1888. As the Narrator, Malak, says in this production…“There are tales and legends about Christmas that have been handed down through ages past, but this one bears a message that could change the hardest of hearts.”
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Midwinter’s Carol follows the measures of the Barkley family from Shropshire, England. Capturing the era of Victorian England, this musical will warm the cockles of all hearts that attend. The production is filled with the sounds and images of Christmases of yore. Carols and original songs herald the message of hope as they fill the streets of Shropshire, England and spill into the hearts of the audience. The story centers on the Barkley family. Constance and Enoch have four children. The oldest son, Garrett, is struggling to prove his manhood to his father, Enoch, who is often away serving in the Royal Army. He seeks for his hardened father’s approval. The oldest daughter, Claire, hopes to be chosen by spinster, Matilda Haddlewick, to go to finishing school. The youngest children, Nora and “Alfie”, befriend the town outcast, Lige Mizenthorpe. Lige carries scars of a squalid past and holds secrets that haunt townsfolk, including Enoch Barkley. Constance is a woman of faith who tries to hold her family together and change her husband’s heart. The production is sprinkled with the whimsical antics of comedic house servants, the gossip of dressmaker, Stella Pattison, and the magical legends of Christmases past. An impending winter storm is brewing as the village of Shropshire prepares for the live nativity at Shrewbury Abbey. As Enoch waits at home for his family to return from the village, a blizzard hits and tragedy strikes. It is Alfie’s faith in God and his love for an outcast that
reveals secrets and heals hearts that will change the Barkley home forever. This enchanted story promises to inspire you and will become one of your Christmas favorites. Performances for A Midwinter’s Carol will be held through Dec. 17th, Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:00 p.m. Additional matinee performances will be held on Saturdays - Dec. 9th & 16th at 2:00 p.m. and on Sundays - Dec. 10th and 17th at 3:00 p.m. Doors will open one hour prior to performances. A suggested donation for each performance is $10.00 for adults, $5.00 for students, FREE for children 5 years of age and under. A love offering will be taken at each production. A special Christmas Dinner will be held on Saturday, Dec. 9th at The Emporium (The building adjoining the theatre). The dinner will start at 5:00 to accommodate both the matinee and evening performance. Patrons can eat after the matinee or before the evening show. Cost for the Dinner Theatre is Adults-$30/ Students-$25/ Children Under 12-$20. Doors will open for the Banquet Hall at 4:30. Reservations are required for the Dinner Theatre. For more information or to make a reservation, call the LampLight box office at 423-3431766, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or visit online at www.LampLightTheatre. com. LampLight Theatre is located at 140 Broad Street, Kingsport, TN.
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or the first time ever, the Jonesborough Senior Center will bring a one of a kind event to Jonesborough: Let’s Swing! A 1940’s Christmas Party. This fun and festive event invites you to cut a rug with the Tri-Cities Jazz Orchestra, a 17-piece live band who will be playing your favorite 1940’s tunes that are sure to get you on your feet. The Tri-Cities Jazz Orchestra is a regional favorite who’s been featured at the Jonesborough Repertory Theatre, performing during the 1940’s USO Shows. In addition, Jonesborough Senior Center’s own Robin Beals will be leading an instructional dance with the Senior Center Ballroom Dancers. The event will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 6 p.m. at the McKinney Center located at 103 Franklin Avenue in Jonesborough. Light refreshments will be served. Tickets are available at Jonesborough.com/tickets or by calling 423.753.1010.
Johnson City Symphony Orchestra collecting for
Toys for Tots
Now through December 9, the Johnson City Symphony Orchestra will be collecting toys for the Toys for Tots annual campaign. Bring a new, unwrapped toy to our office at 172 W Springbrook Drive in Johnson City.
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he collection will culminate on December 9 with our annual holiday concert. If the Grinch, the Nutcracker or the Polar Express brings fond memories of the holiday season to you, please join us on December 9! WJHL’s Josh Smith will be narrating “’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” Mark Davis will chime in with “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” and the Appalachian Express Chorus will be bring their acapella sounds to holiday favorites during the evening. This is a night that is perfect for families to share the warmth of the season with each other! The program will begin at 7:30 pm at Milligan College, Seeger Chapel in Elizabethton TN. Tickets are $15 for students, $35 for seniors and$40 for adults. Tickets also make wonderful gifts! We offer gift certificates and group rates. For more information about ordering tickets, visit www.jcsymphony.com or call the Symphony office at 423926-8742 to wrap up a symphony experience!
Festivals
Got an event coming up?
Events
Send it to The Loafer! info@theloaferonline.com
Concerts
Exhibits
Jonesborough Student Film Festival
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Brings Mysteries and Stories to Life
Thursday, December 14 at 6:00 PM, the McKinney Center in Jonesborough, Tennessee will host the fourth annual Jonesborough Student Film Festival.
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n addition to the student-created short films in the “Let’s Make a TV Show” class, this year’s festival will also feature local history-based mysteries and documentaries, which resulted from the “History Mystery Summer Film Camp”, a class created through Jonesborough’s Mary B. Martin Program for the Arts and in collaboration with the Heritage Alliance. These features are all student written, directed, and edited. Bob Browning, Jonesborough’s Town Administrator, is a strong supporter of the films being made by Jonesborough’s youth, and added, “Storytelling is such a powerful tool to enhance literacy, academic achievement, self-confidence, and self-esteem. When youth learn stories of their family and community and look at their own story as they have lived it thus far, they are more connected and they come to realize that if they want to they can change the ending to their story. That is a powerful thing.” The festival brings together short films made over the past year at the new studio in the Gillespie Building. Film classes held there taught students to write a story, develop a script treatment, create a storyboard, film, and edit, including using green-screen (chroma key) technology In the studio. Students also incorporated live “location” shots for their films. Once student used her artistic abilities to make an animated pencil sketch feature.
Jimmy Neil Smith, the founder of the National Storytelling Festival, said, “This festival proves that the storytelling tradition is alive and thriving among the young people of the Jonesborough community. They’re telling their stories the twenty-first century way.” These young film makers will be given movie-star treatment. They’ll be picked up in a limousine to arrive for their red-carpet debut and photo-op before the films are presented at 6:00. History Mystery Film class will be taught again this spring. Space is limited to eight students, and registration is going on now at the McKinney Center. To download a registration form or to see the complete catalog of classes, go to mckinneycenter.com Jonesborough’s Student Film Festival begins at 6:00 PM on Thursday, December 14, and is free and open to the public. Popcorn will be served. For additional information, contact Jules Corriere at julesc@jonesboroughtn.org or 423.794.6320.
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Venue at the King Centre 300 E. Main Street, Suite 200, Johnson City
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t’s time once again for all you guys and dolls to wear your finest 1920’s Glad Rags to the 2nd Annual Prohibition for the Paws benefitting the Humane Society of Washington County. Come out and enjoy our prohibition style cocktails and dance the night away to Sol Driven Train. Tickets are $30 per person including 2 drink tickets or $50 per couple including 4 tickets. The HSWC is a private non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to the welfare of animals. The Humane Society doesn’t receive any type of funding and must depend on grants, donations, adoption fees and fundraisers such as this. They use the monies they receive to support their various programs; which includes, but is not limited to, foster care, low
Tickets at www.xorbia.com cost spay/neuter, Trap Neuter Release (TNR), foster care for hospitalized veteran’s pets, supplying pet food to seniors in the Meals on Wheels program and a community food pantry. They also work to rescue and care for neglected and abused animals. The Board members and the volunteers of this organization have a passion for animals and they strive to be the champion and the voice for the animals in our community and we hope you will join us for this fun filled evening to help support the Humane Society of Washington County. Want to help or become a sponsor, please call 423-788-9105 or email us at prohibitionforthepaws@gmail.com.
On December 11, the International Storytelling Center (ISC) is pleased to feature two concerts from worldrenowned folk musician John McCutcheon. These concerts are a special feature of ISC’s Storytelling Live! season, a showcase of the country’s top storytellers.
J Photo by Irene Young
ohn McCutcheon’s wide repertoire, ranging from multi-instrumental ballads to satire to symphony, provides the fodder for an unforgettable concert of song and story. With 36 albums and seven Grammy nominations, he’s been hailed as “one of our country’s best songwriters” by Pete Seeger and “the most impressive instrumentalist I’ve ever heard” by Johnny Cash. The marriage of song and story is a beloved one, earning the award-winning McCutcheon a top spot among storytelling fans at the National Storytelling Festival. With a style often compared to Will Rogers and Garrison Keillor, few people communicate with his versatility, charm, wit or pure talent. Both concerts will take place on Monday, December 11, in the theater of the International Storytelling Center, with a matinee at 2 pm and an evening show at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $20 each and are expected to sell out quickly. Reservations for this concert are strongly recommended, though walk-in seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Storytelling Live! is supported by Premier Sponsor, Mountain States’ Heart & Soul Program, Citi, Eastman Credit Union, East Tennessee Foundation, Food City, Foster Signs, National Endowment for the Arts, Niswonger Foundation and the Tennessee Arts Commission. The International Storytelling Center is open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. For tickets, 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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John McCutchenon Returns to International Storytelling Center
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The Appalachian Men’s Ensemble (AMEn) will present a Christmas concert titled “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” on Friday, December 8, 7:30 p.m. at Munsey Memorial United Methodist, 201 E Market St, Johnson City, and on Sunday, December 10, 3:00 p.m. at Central Presbyterian Church, 301 Euclid Ave, Bristol, VA.
T
he concert will feature pianists Bryan Underwood and Ann Lavender performing four-hand piano accompaniments with the men’s choir. Additionally, the pianists will perform several duets without the choir. The concert will include familiar Christmas favorites such as Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Ding Dong Merrily On High, Little Drummer Boy, Coventry Carol, and many more. The concert will also feature an audience singalong to Christmas carols. “Music is one of the most important parts of the Christmas season. We hear familiar tunes and we are immediately filled with Christmas memories. This concert will take the audience away from the headaches of the season and fill them with the Christmas spirit,” says Artistic Director, Alan Stevens, “Every AMEn concert is unique, but the Christmas concerts are always my favorites.” AMEn is an all-male vocal ensemble of auditioned voices from throughout the greater Tri-Cities area. The group is dedicated to performing a wide range
of choral repertoire – both sacred and secular – from the late Middles Ages to the present. AMEn is unique in its formation and execution, representing one of the few male choral ensembles of its size to perform music of such a demanding caliber with a limited rehearsal schedule. AMEn was founded in the fall of 2013 and has quickly gained popularity in the region. Dr. Alan Stevens, the Artistic Director, is also the Associate Director of Choral Activities at East Tennessee State University. Concert admission is a suggested donation of $10 for adults and $5 for students. For more information, contact AMEn at AppalachianMensEnsemble@ gmail.com. Singers interested in joining the ensemble should contact the chorus manager at the same email address. The Appalachian Men’s Ensemble is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Concert updates and additional information about AMEn can be found at www.AppMensEnsemble.org or on their Facebook page www.Facebook. com/AMEnEnsemble
Performs Holiday Concert
Grammy-winning guitar master Ed Gerhard returns to Northeast State Community College for his annual Christmas concert performance on Dec. 7 at 7:00 p.m. in the Wellmont Regional Center for Performing Arts Theatre on the College’s Blountville campus.
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erhard will perform instrumental Christmas and holiday favorites as well as selected original works. The performance is free and open to the public. From Tokyo to Rome and venues across the United States, Ed Gerhard's music has touched audiences all over the world. Performing on 6-string, 12-string, slide guitar or Acoustic Hawaiian Lap Slide, Gerhard captivates his audiences with virtuosity, generosity and sly humor. Based truly on the quality of his work, Gerhard built his considerable reputation, beginning with his debut album Night Birds in 1987. It garnered a spot in the Boston Globe Critics Poll Top 10 Albums of the Year. He followed that up with Christmas featuring a selection of holiday favorites. His subsequent albums Counting the Ways and On a Cold Winter’s Night cemented Gerhard’s status as one of the top guitarists of the modern era. Gerhard released his ninth CD There and Gone in 2012. He was awarded a Grammy® for his inclusion on the CD Henry Mancini; Pink Guitar. Warner Brothers, MelBay and Hal Leonard have all released Ed Gerhard’s music in books. His guitar work can be heard on recordings by Arlo Guthrie, Jorma Kaukonen, Bill Morrissey and in the Ken Burns films Mark Twain and The National Parks: America’s Best Idea. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, www.virturerecords.com. For additional information about the concert, contact 423.354.2449 or visit https://virtuerecords.com.
theloaferonline.com | December 5 2017
Grammy-winning Ed Gerhard
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Spotlight - TUESDAY - December 5th -
Stemwinder Rock’s Wood Fired Pizza & Grill - WEDNESDAY - December 6th -
Acoustic Throw-Down Wild Wing Cafe
- FRIDAY - December 8th -
- SATURDAY - December 9th -
Demon Waffle Wild Wing Cafe
Phoenix Band David Thompson’s Produce
Jake Silver Band Capone’s
These are the Angles / Galena Brother Oliver Capone’s
Willow & Wood Acoustic Coffeehouse
Among The Beloved Capone’s Jason Edwards Wild Wing Cafe
Live Music at Bone Fire Smokehouse
Open Mic The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room
Scott Miller Down Home
- THURSDAY - December 7th -
- SATURDAY - December 9th -
The Gentleman & Liars Wild Wing Cafe
Legion / Manhattan3 Lantz and KaeO The Hideaway
The Lovers Acoustic Coffeehouse
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.
Alli Epperson Quaker Steak & Lube Bristol Beat Lion’s Club
Daniel Couper The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room
The Phoenix Band Chilhowee Lion’s Club
Alli Epperson Yee Haw Brewing Company
Mary Munsey & Friends Figaredos
Jam w/ Markley/Balmer Wellington’s Restaurant
Six String Sundown Woodstone Deli
Live Music at Bone Fire Smokehouse
Michael Cody / Ian Fitzgerald Acoustic Coffeehouse
Nostalgia Duo Rock’s Wood Fired Pizza & Grill
Railway Express Country Club Bar & Grill
Acoustic Jam Session Acoustic Coffeehouse Rusty Steele CJ’s Sports Bar
for show time & more details, visit
theloaferonline.com
49 Windchester / Mind Modes Latrelle The Hideaway Live Music at Bone Fire Smokehouse Major Mojo Rush Street Shooter Band Woodstone Deli
Mike Burkey Model City Tap House Appalachian Strings CJ’s Sports Bar Silent Rival Holston River Brewing Company U Turn Bears Bar Railway Express Country Club Bar & Grill
Trace Hoover Kingsport Moose Lodge #972 Goodnight Wolf Sleepy Owl Brewery Smokehouse Crickets Quaker Steak & Lube Hip Gypsy Music Bristol VFW Post 6975 Cory Branan The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room Jerry Peirce & Nightlife Band The Dispensary Bristol Beat Bristol Country Show Palace Nightshift Band Buffalo Ruritan
Six String Sundown Woodstone Deli Friday, Dec. 8th
Country Club Bar & Grill 3080 W State St Bristol 423-844-0400
Model City Tap House 324 E Market St. Kingsport 423-765-0875
Bear's Bar 4460 Highway 421 Bristol TN 423-502-1975
Holiday Inn (Exit 7) 3005 Linden Dr. Bristol VA 276-466-4100
Quaker Steak & Lube 629 State St. Bristol VA 276-644-9464
Bone Fire Smokehouse at the Hardware 260 W Main St Abingdon VA 276-623-0037
Holston River Brewing Company 2623 Volunteer Pkwy Bristol TN
Rock’s Wood Fired Pizza & Grill 3119 Bristol Hwy. Johnson City 423-262-0444
CJ’S Sports Bar 516 Morelock St. Kingsport 423-390-1361
Lakeview Marina 474 Lakeside Dock Drive Kingsport
TUESDAY
Karaoke w/ Crossroads & Josh Blevins at Dawg House Tavern Family Night Karaoke at CJ’s Sports Bar Karaoke w/ Marques at The Cave Karaoke at Numan’s ***********************
WEDNESDAY
Karaoke w/ Southern Sounds Karaoke at American Legion Karaoke at CJ’s Sports Bar Karaoke w/ DJ Brad & Top Shelf Entertainment at Quaker Steak & Lube
Sonny’s Marina & Café 109 One Street Gray, TN 423-282-9440
FRIDAY
Karaoke at Kingsport Moose Lodge Karaoke w/ Reverb Karaoke at The Cottage Turn the Page Karaoke at VFW Post 2108 - Johnson City TN Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Moe’s Original BBQ Karaoke w/ Toddzilla at Sportsmans Pub Karaoke w/ DJ Brad & Top Shelf Entertainment at BoBo’s - Damascus VA Karaoke at Elizabethton VFW
Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Smokey Bones - Johnson City TN
Karaoke w/ DJ Marquez & Top Shelf Entertainment at Holiday Inn (Exit 7) - Bristol VA
Turn the Page Karaoke at VFW Post 2108 - Johnson City TN ***********************
Karaoke at Numan’s ***********************
THURSDAY
Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Macado’s - Kingsport
SATURDAY
Karaoke at The Horseshoe Lounge
Karaoke at CJ’s Sports Bar
Karaoke w/ Toddzilla at Sportsmans Pub
Karaoke at Numan’s
Karaoke at Kingsport Moose Lodge
Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at New Beginning’s
Turn the Page Karaoke at VFW Post 2108 - Johnson City TN
Karaoke at Jiggy Rays Pizzaria ***********************
Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Macado’s - Kingsport
Karaoke w/ Southern Sounds Karaoke at Sportsman’s Bar & Grill
Karaoke at Numan’s ***********************
FRIDAY
Karaoke w/ Shane Rouse at Bear’s Bar
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SPOTLIGHT DIRECTORY
KARAOKE
Acoustic Coffeehouse 415 W Walnut St. Johnson City 423-434-9872
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Moon Men and Mars Journey Reality
So, you want to go to Mars? That’s the latest trend in perking the attention of the public by a handful of aerospace rivals in the new Space Age of private business
S Stargazer
By Mark Marquette since 1996 stargazermarq@ gmail.com
ure, it looks easy in Hollywood blockbusters like “The Martian” (2015) and “Red Planet” (2000). In a true space reality drama, the super spacey billionaires Elon Musk of SpaceX and Jeff Bezos of Blue Origin (as well as Boeing, Orbital ATK, Virgin Galactic and NASA), are building new spaceships to take humans back to the Moon and onward to Mars. Even China and Russia want to go to Mars. They are all making plans for humans to begin interplanetary settlements before 2030. Sounds good. And every space lover from working aerospace engineers to Space Geeks would welcome permanent settlements on the Moon and Mars. And when was the last time mankind sent people to deep space beyond just orbiting Earth? That would be 1972. This week marks the Apollo 17 Moon landing on a mountain highland called Taurus-Littrow on Dec. 11th that year. The sixth and final successful lunar triumph by NASA ended a decade obsession to beat the Soviet Union to the Moon. The effort was an amazing technical achievement for America, and the engineering challenges were shared to help change the world. Now in 2017 it is popular to talk about sending a crew to Mars in the next 10-15 years. There is even discussion of a one-way mission with a sacrifice crew willing to die on the Red Planet. It all sounds ambitious and honorable, with proponents outlining how it will work, at least on their Smart Pads. But not so fast… Let’s look at where NASA has been and where the New Age space entrepreneurs want to go—target Mars. Mars is half the size of Earth, 7,918 miles to 4,212 in diameter. And the Moon is half the size of Mars, one-fourth the Earth at 2,158 miles. Compared to Earth, gravity is less than half on Mars and one-sixth on the Moon. The Moon is on the average 240,000 miles away from Earth, varying by just 5,000 miles either way. Mars can be as close to Earth as 40 million miles and as far away as 200 million. Every 20 months the optimum “launch window” occurs to send a spacecraft on a 9-month journey. And then stay on Mars for at least 3 months for another launch window and the 9-month journey back to Earth. That’s 22 months of space travel and Martian living. The plan sounds pretty good. But let’s look at he only celestial world we’ve traveled: The Moon. From November 1968 to December 1972 there were nine manned Apollo voyages to the Moon. They included two intended orbital missions and six landings. And one near-death, four-day drama of the crippled Apollo 13 that simply looped around the Moon. Apollo 17’s expedition was near perfect, moonwalkers Gene Cernan, deceased, and Harrison “Jack” Schmitt, 82, camping for three days, taking three, 7-hour excursions outside and driving their Lunar Rover 21 miles. It was a fine ending to the Apollo program. But cancelled were more ambitious missions ready to begin Antarctica-like base-Apollos 18, 19 and 20. Why? The official reason is to build the Space Shuttle and a space station. Another reason is cold feet. Apollo 13 was a close call. See the Hollywood movie, which is a NASA-endorsed depiction of the incredible drama. Leaving two dead astronauts on the Moon was the ultimate nightmare. Every monthly Moon cycle people would look up and forever think “poor Gene and Jack!” Traveling at a speed that averaged, 3,300 mph, it took three days there and three days back in the cramped spacecraft. Add in the time spend on the Moon, and the maximum round-trip was 12.5 days by Apollo 17. The nine Moon voyages across interplanetary space add up to 77 days or 11 weeks. The total time spent on the surface of another world is 12 days. THAT’S our
entire human deep space experience. And it was 45 years ago! Another important factor—money. A trip to the Mars is going to need a lot of money. Money for new technologies, money for rockets and spacecraft, money for infrastructure, money for people. That’s not such a bad thing, because no one has stuffed a rocket full of $100 bills and blasted it into space. All the money is spent on Earth for good jobs. To put the cost of a Mars mission into perspective, look at America’s 1960s Moon Race with the Soviet Union. NASA’s Mercury, Gemini and Apollo manned programs from 1960 to 1972 cost $30 billion in 1968 dollars. The inflation rate during five decades is more than $6 to $1. That puts the cost of the entire Moon program at $200 billion in 2017 dollars! Spread over 12 years, that’s more than $16 billion a year, nearly all of NASA’s $20 billion 2017 budget. Private space businesses can rely on existing technologies that were developed by the Apollo program, and that saves research money. But the engineering challenges and elaborate hardware of an interplanetary spacecraft will cost plenty. While the spacecraft and travel logistics are feasible with today’s technology, there is one big foreseen problem—food. A Mars journey with a three-month stay will take a minimum of 630 days. At three meals a day, that is 1,890 meals, which translates to at least one-ton of food per person. Water can be recycled and extracted from Martian resources. But food takes time to grow and will have to be sent well ahead of any landing crew. And what about energy to power habitats? Maintenance parts? Long distance communications infrastructure? Heat? (It’s cold on Mars!) Than there is the psychology of being human. Will we make it to Mars? Certainly, within the next 50 years. But who? And what flag will they wave? Let the Great Mars Race begin!
W
ith more than thirteen hours of darkness and the Moon rising after midnight to its Last Quarter on Monday, it’s time for some evening stargazing! The Moon in the predawn sky is a reminder of the last lunar voyage 45 years ago when Apollo 17 made the journey. The evening is absent of any planets as Saturn and Venus are in the solar glare, while Mars and Jupiter are in the predawn hours. Winter constellations are hurtling over the eastern horizon lead by Taurus and Orion.
Tuesday, December 5 In 2001, Endeavour was rocketed into orbit three years after connecting the first modules of the International Space Station. This time seven astronauts on the Shuttle had in its cargo bay the Italian module Raffaello being ferried up with supplies to the half-complete ISS. Raffaello was stowed in the Shuttle and brought back with used equipment, experiments and garbage.
Saturday, December 9 On this 2006 date in space history, Space Shuttle Discovery was launched on a mission 12-day “hard hat” mission with six astronauts joining the three aboard the International Space Station. Check out the Smartphone apps or on the Internet for times when the ISS flies overhead—usually one week a month in the evening and one week in the morning twilight.
Wednesday, December 6 If you could “turn off” the Sun in the day you’d see it in the constellation Ophiuchus the Serpent Handler, between Scorpius and Sagittarius. The Sun won’t move into Sagittarius until Dec. 18. The ancient astrologers didn’t want 13 constellations in the Zodiac—an unlucky number if you believed superstitions.
Sunday, December 10 All week the Great Square of Pegasus is overhead at dark—which is 6 pm—and begins setting as Orion the Hunter rises in the east. There is a big difference in the southern skies from 6 pm when the dull and faint stars of Capricornus and Pisces are replaced by dazzling Taurus the Bull and Orion the Hunter.
Thursday, December 7 Part of the confusion in your “fake news” Zodiac sign and dates is how the calendar has been manipulated the past 2,000 years. Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 threw out the September days of 2-13 to align to align the Julian Calendar of Caesar in line with a spring Easter. We live by that Gregorian Calendar today.
Monday, December 11 Last Quarter Moon today. On this 1972 date in space history, Apollo 17 lands on the Moon in the Taurus-Littrow highlands, the last time humans have set foot on an alien world. Commander Gene Cernan and astronaut-geologist Harrison Schmitt spent three days on the surface and drove 21 miles on their Lunar Rover exploring. Cernan became a corporate leader in the rocket industry, and Schmitt served one term as US Senator from his native New Mexico and advocates returning to the Moon to mine its energy source of oxygen three.
Friday, December 8 Early morning risers will see bright and gold Jupiter below a dimmer but still bright red star, Mars. The pair are high in the sky by 4 am, and get close in a conjunction Christmas week between Virgo and Libra.
25 theloaferonline.com | December 5 2017
THIS WEEK
SKIES
Celestial events in the skies for the week of Dec. 5 - 11, 2017 as compiled for The Loafer by Mark D. Marquette.
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A
A is for Abingdon Olive Oil
C
C is for Camp Ruff-N-More
G
G is for Give here, help here! Marsh Regional Blood Center
ABCs
D
H
D is for Don Hill Used Car Value Center
H is for Hamlett-Dobson
I
It's a wonderful day when you pick up a Loafer!
J
J is for Jonesborough Wines & Spirits
E
E is for Express Oil Change
F
F is for Flowers at White's Floral
K
K is for Kingsport Pirannahs
L
L is for Lafayette Heat & Air
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s a m t s i r h C of
B
B is for Blackbird Backery
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M
M is for Mac's Medicine Mart
O
O is for Open to Everyone! Washington Co. Co-Op
U
U is for URL Stellar Studios
ABCs
P
V
P is for Pit Row Wine & Liquor
V is for VPR Roofing
Q
W
Q is for Questions about Monat?
W is for Win with Warranty 1
R
R is for Rainbow Motors
X
X is for Xtreme Lashes by Sher Extensions
S
Y
S is for Shop on Buy at House Dressing
Y is for Your BEST Choice for Pizza Johnny Brusco's
T
Z
T is for Tan Tanks Are Us Admiral Proane
Z is for Zoom on up to Bays Mountain Park!
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s a m t s i r h C of
N
N is for New Looks begin at Studio 33
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How To Gift Wrap Batteries Not Included
By Andy Ross aross@ theloaferonline.com
The tree is up, the outside is decorated, and I’ve been chugging Egg Nog since Cyber Monday. It’s Christmas, y’all. If you were smart perhaps you spent the summer months stocking up on all your gifts for your various family and co-dependents.
I
f you’re like my family, there’s that one closet, usually in the guest bedroom, where in the deep far back corner there’s a cache of gift wrap, some from last year’s clearance sales, the rest dating as far back as 1998. My mother is a master at gift wrapping, she can make Christmas and Birthday gifts look like something out of a magazine. The lines are perfect, there’s no overhang, it’s crisp and clean. I didn’t inherit this gift from my mother. When I go to wrap a present the end result looks like something that has passed through the digestive track of a bull elephant. I have no grace, or capacity to properly measure the amount of paper needed to wrap anything. Is it a small gift? Like a box that a diamond necklace would be in? I use the amount of paper you’d normally use to wrap up a video game system. Oh, and something the size of a video game system? I use the entire roll. Giant chunky balls of paper, miles and miles of ribbon, and enough tape that the scotch company should personally send me a thank you note. My gifts are always easy to spot at the annual family gathering. A beautiful tree full of perfect looking gifts, then there’s their deformed cousins sitting off to the side. When one cousin was dating their now wife, on the first Christmas
she spent with her future family, she spotted me bringing my gifts in and rushed over with a look of concern on her face and said “Oh, no! What happened!?” This wasn’t encouraging as that was also the year I took my time to try to make my gift wrapping better. I’ve even had my mother go over gift wrapping with me step by step, and I still magically manage to make mangled messes of thoughtful gifts. But it’s the thought that counts, right? Not you family and friends judging you for your lack of basic motor skills. Everyone in your family saying behind your back “Oh, you can tell how much care Andy puts into a gift by how many wrinkles and creases are in the paper.” No, that doesn’t matter at all. Maybe I should switch to gift bags? But the problem with gift bags is that I can’t prank my friends and loved ones by wrapping up all their gifts in “Paw Patrol” paper. This year I may just have those overly enthusiastic gift wrap squad members the department stores have to wrap gifts for you do all my wrapping for me. Maybe I can hire them out to do my non in-store purchases? Is that legal? Will I get caught by channel 11 in a elicit, late night, parking lot shady gift wrap session? Stay tuned to find out. I mean, NO! I would never do anything like that! At. All. See you next week.
Christmas Cookie Contest Sun, Dec. 10 5:30 PM · Central Christian Church · Bristol, TN
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hristmas Cookie Contest is a friendly competition. Can you bake a cookie that will wow our judges and win? Prizes will be awarded to the best adult and child bakers. Guidelines and more information will be emailed upon completion of an online registration form or by contacting Stephanie Boyles at stephboyles@gmail.com. Everyone is invited to attend and help us judge the best cookies. You only need to register if you are baking in the competition. This is a free event.
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Willow & Wood
W
illow and Wood make up two strong partnerships, one their own romantic deal, legalized in marriage since 2005 and another more musical affair, where if Wood is the music, Willow is the song. Together they play a hypnotizing form of gothic Americana with Willow’s voice wending its wild way through the watercolor waves of Wood’s guitar. After years of holding illustrious court in the Seattle music scene, the duo found themselves on the road again and this time definitively as they headed south and stopped over in Nashville. Unbeknownst to them at the time, they were laying down roots that would take hold and flourish. Its no surprise that in song city, Willow and Wood found new songs to inspire, but neither of them anticipated such a prolific shift in their collaborative life. Says Willow: “We’d only ever written two songs together in Seattle, but here, we’ve written so many. It’s in the air. Even if we didn’t play music which I can’t imagine that, something about being in Tennessee, in the south -- I can feel it seeping into my bones and I feel like it’s calling me home.” Behind this observation is evidence of a particular kind of joy, deeper than a surface change, something earned over many years of shared commitment, forgiveness and grace. Whether swinging sweetly to “Whiskey Faces” or barreling into the depths of “Get Lonely”, the songs and their lovely gentle messengers seem to have been traveling a great distance just to finally arrive in this very moment. Willow says: “We found a different voice here, which having played together and been married to each other for ten plus years, finding a new voice is exciting and inspiring.” Sipping on a bourbon at the couple’s favorite neighborhood bar, she makes the offhanded comment: “I wonder what would happen if we moved to Minnesota or Detroit?” We’ll have to wait and see, but for now, the south seems to be working just fine.
“
Willow’s music is imbued with a gentle lyricism full of swirling strings alternating with hushed moments of pure voice that suggests redemption might be possible after all” – Seattle Weekly
Saturday, December 9th, 10pm
perform at the Acoustic Coffeehouse
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Coco (Rated PG) 4 Guitars (out of 4)
Pop Life
By Ken Silvers ksilvers@ theloaferonline.com
I must admit when I first saw the previews for the new CGI animated film "Coco", I wasn't that impressed. When I made the decision to finally give the film a chance, I am certainly glad I did!
T
he musical fantasy tells the story of the Rivera family in Mexico and how they have dismissed music from their lives after the family's matriarch Imelda had to deal with the departure of her husband, who left her for a career in music. The Rivera family became shoemakers and never allow music in their home or for any family to be around musicians. The only problem is Imelda's great-great-grandson, 12-year-old Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez) dreams of becoming a musician like his hero Ernesto de la Cruz, a popular musician and film star. Miguel enters a local talent show, but when his grandmother Elena discovers his plan, she destroys his guitar. This prompts Miguel to break into the tomb of Ernesto and steal his famous guitar to use in the talent show. However, when Miguel strums the guitar, he becomes invisible to everyone in the village plaza but his dog and his skeletal dead relatives who are visiting from the Land of the Dead for the Day of the Dead holiday. Miguel's relatives take him to the Land of the Dead, but he must receive a blessing from his from his family in order to return to the land of the living before sunrise or he will become one of the dead. Imelda will offer Miguel a blessing if he gives up his musical pursuit, but he refuses and heads out to find Ernesto. While in search of Ernesto, Miguel meets Hector, a down-and-out skeleton who once played music with Ernesto, and will help his new friend find the famous star if he will take him back to the Land of the Living so he can visit with his daughter before she forgets him and he disappears. Hector attempts to get Miguel back to his relatives, but Miguel manages to elude his new friend, and finds Ernesto. When Miguel finally meets his musical idol, he learns the truth about the musician and how Ernesto's actions had a detrimental effect on his family. We also learn the connection between Miguel's great-grandmother Coco and Hector, and it's tear-jerking. Speaking of tears, they may just flow at some point during the film, especially in a scene involving Coco and Miguel, so you may want to have a tissue handy. The film ends on a joyous note, with Miguel's family giving in and allowing music once again into their lives. The film is glorious in the 3D format, and has eye popping visuals, particularly when Miguel is in the colorful Land of the Dead. The filmmakers do a wonderful job in making Miguel such a likeable
character you wish he was part of your own family. While the film is joyous and features enjoyable songs, the real heart of the film is its emotional center. The film also does a wonderful job paying respect to Mexican culture, and when released in Mexico, "Coco" became the highest-grossing film of all time in the country. If that wasn't enough, the film is proceeded by a holiday themed "Frozen" animated short film. "Coco" is an enjoyable film for the entire family that provides plenty of chuckles between the sentiment.
2017 Merry Merchants Window Competition Winner
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Kil'n Time Ceramic Studio
Kil’n Time Contemporary Ceramic Studio in downtown Bristol has been voted first place in the window decorating contest!
“
We were really looking for one that followed the theme with creativity. Kil’n Time definitely did that with their Grinch themed window,”
stated Emily Champagne, Believe in Bristol Design Committee member.
O
n Monday, November 20, during the annual Downtown Christmas Open House, Kil’n Time caught the eye of many and became the fourth recipient of the Merry Merchants Window Decorating Competition Award hosted by Believe in Bristol’s Design Committee. The merchants were challenged to make the most of their favorite Christmas song and the winner was decided by judges from the Believe in Bristol Design Committee. Additional congratulations to Willow Creek Antiques and Bristol Ballet for honorable mention for the Merry Merchant Competition. “Willow Creek was beautiful and creative. We also wanted to honor the Nutcracker live performance window at Bristol Ballet,
although that was only for Open House night. The creativity and the participation from all of the merchants was outstanding and helped to make downtown festive and ready for the holiday season.” The prize awarded was a certificate to showcase the win, features in Believe in Bristol’s e-news and social media pages, and, of course, bragging rights! The window display will remain up throughout the holiday season. Thank you to everyone that participated, we look forward to seeing what you come up with next year! Kil’n Time Ceramic Studio is located at 818 State Street, Bristol, TN 37620.
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Zoo Knoxville
Appalachian Wanderers
By Jason & Daniel Worley jdworley@ theloaferonline.com
For many of our readers who grew up in the area, you no doubt have fond childhood memories of visiting the Knoxville Zoo. First opened all the way back in 1952 as the Municipal Zoo, the forested reserve has come a long way from those early days when its solo attraction was Al the alligator. Sporting a new name and dozens of additional acres added throughout the years, over eight hundred animals now call the gardened landscapes home.
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ast week we decided to visit Zoo Knoxville since cooler weather has set in and the summer crowds have long since dispersed. Our main interest? Tiger Forest, 2017’s new exhibit and the first portion of the soon-to-be-completed Asian Trek. When visitors first walk through the zoo’s entry gates, they are now greeted by a new sight, the Shieh Family Pagoda. A brand new path begins at its base and descends through an area which the park’s rhinoceroses used to call home. As visitors approach the Temple of the Tiger, traditional Chinese music envelopes the area and adds to the immersive experience. The first stop is at the white-naped crane enclosure. These majestic birds are found throughout southeast Asia, from China over to Japan, and are listed as threatened in the wild. It is hoped that the birds here will breed successfully in order to raise their dwindling numbers; one chick was already hatched over the spring, so the breeding program has had great success so far. Entering the new temple, guests will come face to face with the Malayan tigers, Zoo Knoxville’s new stars. They once reigned supreme in the jungles of the Malaysian peninsula, but now they are critically endangered. Only several hundred remain throughout the world, with many of those located in zoos. Millions were invested in this state-ofthe-art enclosure to ensure these cats have the best living conditions available. Much of the time they will be near the glass lounging on
the rocks or swimming in the adjacent pool. We lingered far too long here, as this is by far one of the most thrilling exhibits to be found. Beyond the peaceful Tiger Forest, the sound of construction jars visitors back to our own urban environment. Next year will see the opening of two more exhibits at Asian Trek, Gibbons Trails and Langur Landing. The first will give the park’s resident gibbons much more space than the current enclosure provides and will also feature a tree house for visitors to interact with the surrounding environment. Langurs will be a completely new addition to the zoo, so be sure to visit in 2018 to check out these new additions. Several area paths are closed while this construction continues through the winter months, so visitors must detour through Kids Cove in order to visit the reptile and otter exhibits. While the otters are almost always frolicking in the water, many of the reptiles are away for the season due to cold weather. About half of the remaining reptile enclosures are empty as well, with large banners announcing the opening of a new reptile and amphibian center in 2020. This area was closed earlier in the year after multiple reptilian residents died from an undetermined toxin. While the remaining animals are no less interesting to look at, this area has clearly seen better days.
WANDERERS continued on page 39
Downtown Bristol Gets a Real Chicago Pizzeria
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opens on Sixth Street
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The Angry Italian By Paul Kavanaugh
Keith Yonker arrived in the Tri Cities several years ago as the Corporate Executive Chef at Eastman. Born and raised in Chicago, he has been interested in food and the restaurant business since childhood. As he was leaving Eastman, he decided to acquire a food truck and serve his Italian favorites out of it.
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hen fate intervened, and the location that formerly housed Little Italy became available. After reassuring Roland’s family that he would not try to duplicate Little Italy, he was able to acquire the premises at 16 Sixth Street and began to create his own place, based not on New York style pizza but on the Chicago varieties he grew up with. When I got a chance to sit down with Keith for a few minutes, it was obvious that he is an easy guy to talk to and is quite knowledgeable about the Italian cuisine that emanates from Chicago. For instance, deep dish is NOT the original Chicago pizza. Dating back to 1942 and a place called Vito and Nick’s, the original style has a very thin, crisp crust and is typically cut into squares “tavern style”. This is Keith’s favorite style of pizza, but after a gentleman named Ike Sewal invented the deep dish style in Chicago, it caught on with the public. Keith’s version uses a thin, crisp crust on the bottom (“it’s not a casserole”) and a thicker crust up the sides – necessary to hold in a pound of
mozzarella plus the sauce and toppings. Call ahead to order as it takes a full 45 minutes to cook these babies. The thin crust pizzas only take 15 – 20 minutes. So yes, the pizza is top notch at The Angry Italian, but they feature a full Italian restaurant menu of salads, sandwiches and entrees. There is enough variety to keep you experimenting for months! Keith sources all his ingredients from either the Chicagoland area or Toledo. He will not settle for “ordinary” – he knows what makes the best quality food. I recommend that you stop by and have a bite. You can get a beer to enjoy with your pizza and can also bring your own wine for a modest corkage charge. Take a look at the authentic pizza ovens and the overall décor. Then remember that you are in Bristol – not Chicago! Welcome to Downtown Bristol Angry Italian!
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License Plate to Commemorate The Crooked Road The Crooked Road, Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail, has developed a proposed Crooked Road license plate that will allow Virginia drivers to display their pride in the region’s rich musical heritage.
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he unique design carries the theme of the popular road sign that adorns The Crooked Road, featuring a banjo on a multi-color backdrop of mountain scenery. Once The Crooked Road has received at least 450 pre-paid applications for the plate, a bill will be introduced in the Virginia General Assembly authorizing the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles to manufacture the plate. After 1,000 plates are sold, the state will share a portion of the annual revenue with The Crooked Road to support the organization’s work. The first 450 applicants will be eligible for a drawing to win one of three prize packages from The Crooked Road,
including a grand prize of Crooked Road hats and shirts, Crooked Road CDs, an autographed Crooked Road art poster signed by artist P. Buckley Moss, tickets to Dr, Ralph Stanley’s Hills of Home and HoustonFest Bluegrass Festivals, and two all-access passes to over 20 concerts during The Crooked Road’s 4th annual Mountains of Music Homecoming, June 8-16, 2018. The license plate application form is available at The Crooked Road website, www.thecrookedroad.org, and the completed applications must be sent to The Crooked Road. For more information, applicants may call The Crooked Road at 276 492-2409.
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Would you know what to do if you were dropped in the middle of the woods, desert or mountains?
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or most people, the answer is no, but Bays Mountain Park’s Outdoor Survival Basics series is your opportunity to learn how to adapt to the rough conditions of the outdoors for free!
The following survival classes will be held in the Discovery Theater at Bays Mountain Park from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. • • • •
December 9th – “Bear Aware” December 16th – “Snake Bites” December 23rd – “What To Take Hiking?” December 30th – “Outdoor Survival Basics”
These free classes will cover the techniques a person should use in a dangerous situation to save themselves or others. The skills being discussed are meant to help someone who is lost by providing knowledge of the necessities for human life. This includes water, food and shelter, as well as the need to think straight, signal for help, navigate safely, avoid unpleasant interactions with animals and plants, and for first aid. There is no charge to participate in the series, and participants can complete as many classes as they would like. Participants who attend all five classes will receive a certificate of completion. For more information please call 423-229-9447.
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• Bristol Station Brews & Taproom Half off first pint or flight • Broad Street on State 20% off your check of $6 or more • Stateline Bar & Grille 2 for 1 Appetizers • Studio Brew 1/2 Half off first pint Free Appetizer or dessert w/Entrée Purchase • Machiavelli’s Free order of breadsticks with any entrée • Whiskey Rebellion Half off your appetizer • J Frank Free dessert and immediate parking Discounts valid for all performances of Annie.
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Discounts available with ticket stub day of performance
Gorilla Valley is home to three babies now, with baby Andi stealing the show. She was born this year and is an absolute joy to watch. The other babies, Ubantu and Obi, both came to the glass when they saw visitors approach and tried to scare them. A zookeeper was on hand to answer the plethora of questions we had, and the only reason we left was because it was approaching closing time. This was our first time visiting the zoo in the off season and also during a weekday. There are of course pros and cons to visiting at any time of year. Almost all the restaurants and food stations were closed. Be sure to bring a water bottle, because the water fountains throughout the park were turned off. The Zoo Choo Train, bird show, and the splash pad were all closed as well. If visitors are more interested in seeing the animals in a much more relaxed environment without the jostle of crowds at every viewing station, this time of year is perfect. While some exhibits were closed for the season as already mentioned, the animals which were out seemed completely relaxed and acted more natural. This is a great time for adults and those with older children to visit. Another added benefit is that Kroger Discount Days have begun, with a $5 discount on admission all the way to the February 28th.
Paramount Partners
Returning through Kids Cove, families have the opportunity to check out some interactive play areas. A petting zoo, giant sandbox, and even a carousel are scattered throughout the childrens park. Local animals such as skunks and beavers call this area home, and we especially enjoyed the friendly raccoons. Check out the barn to see cornsnakes, rats, owls, and other animals which can be found on the farm. Nearby are pigs, chickens, and turkeys too. Backtracking past Asian Trek, there is still so much more to see and do. Black Bear Falls is one of our favorite areas, despite opening over a decade ago. The prairie dogs are playful residents, but they were nowhere to be seen on our visit. We did get an awesome view of Zoo Knoxville’s famous celebrities, the adorable red pandas. African Plains is home to giraffes, rhinoceroses, baboons, elephants, and the great African lions. Camel rides are a favorite during the warmer months but are now closed for the season. The path continues into the jungles of central Africa, where we had our most interesting encounter. Most of the chimps were snoozing in their sleeping quarters, despite the beautiful weather. The gorillas, however, were up and about, interacting with guests and having a good time.
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Answers on page 42
Good Boy is a 4 year old male mix and is neutered and up to date on all vaccines. This sweetheart has been at the shelter since it opened. He is such a sweet and loving dog. Please consider bringing him home for the Holidays so he can enjoy the family he deserves!
Diamond is a 2 year old Terrier mix. This cutie is so lively and jolly! She is spayed and up to date on all vaccines. She loves to play!
Large dogs and adult cats are at half price adoption price until Dec. 15th!
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he Bridge Home has an ongoing aluminum can can collection in front of the shelter at 2061 Hwy 75 in Blountville, TN 37617 and a second aluminum can collection site at Airworks Heating and Cooling, 5633 Memorial Blvd Kingsport. 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 12pm6pm Sat 12pm-3pm and Sun 2pm-4pm. Website is www.bridgehomerescue@ gmail.com or like them on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/bridgehome
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PETS
OF THE WEEK
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THINGS TO DO Big Brothers Big Sisters Looking for Community Volunteers Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Tri-Cities (BBBSGTC) is looking for community volunteers to make a difference in a child’s life. Spending approximately 4 hours a month with an at-risk youth can help them improve in school, their behavior and their self-esteem. “Our kids have a need, and we are looking for caring adults to step up and volunteer,” said Kathy Lowdermilk, Regional Director of BBBSGTC. “If you have a few hours a month and the desire to make a difference, we want to talk with you about our program.” Our local Big Brothers Big Sisters office, which serves the Bristol, Kingsport, and Johnson City area, 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 TriCities should contact the office by calling 423-247-3240, or visiting TennesseeBig.org. •••••••••••••••••••••••••• Blood Drive Marsh Regional Blood Center will conduct public blood drives at the area locations. Visit http://tinyurl. com/n4aujx9 to find a location near you. In addition to scheduled blood drives, donors are welcome at Marsh Regional’s collection centers: 111 W. Stone Drive, Suite 300,
Kingsport, 2428 Knob Creek Road, Johnson City and 1996 W. State St., Bristol. For more information about scheduling a blood drive at a local business, church, school or community organization, please call 423408-7500, 423-652-0014 or 276-6794669 or visit marshblood.com. •••••••••••••••••••••••••• The Casual Word Adult Creative Writing Class Join us for a free, fun, engaging, and different look into writing. In this class, we will not focus on structure, form, or rules, but on the freedom of writing. It is the goal of this class to open the mind to its full creative potential by allowing participants to write what they want, how they want to write it. Sessions will be student lead; we will engage in topics and subjects that are of interest to the students. The atmosphere is casual and jovial. This class is designed for all those 18 and up who wish to try their hand at creative writing. Thursdays @ 6:00 p.m. Jones Creativity Center. Bristol Public Library. •••••••••••••••••••••••••• Food for Fines & Pet Food for Fines The Washington County Library is again accepting donations of food for area food banks during the month of November in lieu of collecting fines for overdue materials. The Jonesborough Library will be donating their collections to the Jonesborough Area Ministerial Association’s Food Pantry (JAMA). The Gray Library is collecting for the Gray Community Chest Food Pantry. The foods needed are assorted canned food items (fruit, vegetables, meat, etc.), dried beans, cereal, peanut butter, rice and pasta, cereals, boxed dinners. Also included are baby formula and baby food. Remember, we cannot accept glass containers, per-
ishable food, or out-of-date items. Both libraries are also doing a Pet Food for Fines drive. Donations will go to Good Samaritan Ministries Pet Food Pantry. We can accept canned cat/dog food, cat litter, bagged food (small bags preferred), treats, and potty- pads. No open packages please! For each qualified item donated, $1.00 in fines will be forgiven. Payment for lost or damaged library materials and processing fees are not included in the program. •••••••••••••••••••••••••• Holiday Open House & Tree Trimming Join us at the Jonesborough Library on Wednesday, December 6th, for our annual holiday open house and tree trimming. You are invited to drop in any time between 10:30am – 2:30pm to help decorate our tree for the holidays! This event is free and open to all ages. Light refreshments will be provided! This is a great opportunity to meet some of the members of the Friends of the Library, and learn more about how you can work with them to improve your local library! Santa Claus will be making a special appearance at 10:30am! For more information please visit the Jonesborough Library or call 423-753-1800.
DIY Bow Making at JCPL The Johnson City Public Library will host a DIY Holiday Bow Making workshop on Thursday, December 7 at 2:00 p.m. in the second floor Buffalo Mountain Room. Individuals of all skill levels are welcome to learn how to create different styles of gorgeous gift bows. All materials will be provided. This workshop is free and open to the public. For more information, call Adult Services at 423434-4454. To learn more about this and other upcoming events, like the library’s Facebook page, or follow the library on Twitter or Instagram. •••••••••••••••••••••••••• New Sabine Hill Tours On Sunday, December 10 at 2:00 pm and Saturday, December 16 at 10 am we will be offering tours of historic Sabine Hill recently dedicated November 1st of this year. These tours are by reservation only. Built by the widow of Brigadier General Nathaniel Taylor, Mary Patton Taylor, this beautiful surviving example of Federal architecture is a must see. Restored by the Tennessee Historical Commission and operated by Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park, the house has been returned to its 1818 splendor. During your tour you will have the opportunity to take in the colorful and architecturally detailed interior while
learning about the Taylor family who called Sabine Hill home in the early 19th century. To Register: Please visit: tnstateparks.com/parks/events/sycamoreshoals. Choose “Upcoming Events” in the left hand menu and search for the date and time of the tour, click on the box of your choice and you will be taken to the registration page. Meet at Sabine Hill State Historic Site 2328 West G. Street, Elizabethton, TN. Please note there are no restroom facilities on site at Sabine Hill. Plan accordingly before your arrival. •••••••••••••••••••••••••• FL3TCH3R Exhibit: Social and Politically Engaged Art Established in memory of Barbara and Wayne Dyer's son, Fletcher, the FL3TCH3R international juried exhibit focuses on work with strong social and/or political content. Entries were selected by illustrator/painter Anita Kunz, a visual artist whose magazine covers include The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, Time, Rolling Stone, Sports Illustrated, Vanity Fair and Fortune. For more information, contact the Reece Museum at 423-439-4392.
Cryptogram: Whatever happens at all happens as it should - thou wilt find this true, if thou shouldst watch closely. DropQuote: "Here is the rule to remember in the future, When anything tempts you to be bitter: not, This is a misfortune but To bear this worthily is good fortune."
Evocative Objects
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Go To The Movies
As my students will hopefully attest, I like to focus on evocative objects in my history classes. These objects are described by social theorist Sherry Turkle as “the things we think with,” and they allow us construct an entire world around them.
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By Jim Kelly since 1989 jkelly@ theloaferonline.com
or instance, a hubcap from a 1957 Chevrolet leads us into a discussion about the social and cultural contexts of the 1950s and into a world filled with the sounds of rock and roll, the construction of suburban houses, the antics of Howdy Doody and Bert The Turtle, and the stirrings of the modern civil rights movement. The hubcap can also send us down the road of American tourism and into the parking lots of countless motels that lined this road--including the parking lot outside Kelly’s Motel, where I grew up and developed the kind of warped mindset that eventually led to the creation of this column. I have collected several books about evocative objects that run the gamut from Civil War memorabilia and tasty culinary items, to objects associated with the Beatles and Michelangelo’s art works. My most recent acquisition is Scott Jordan Harris’ fascinating and very evocative ROSEBUD SLEDS AND HORSES’ HEADS: 50 OF FILM’S MOST EVOCATIVE OBJECTS. Published in 2013, this book features fifty onepage essays, accompanied by original drawings, that offer many ways to think about how evocative objects define the history of film. The two references in the book’s title recall the famous (and infamous) sled that unlocks the mystery of newspaper magnate Charles Foster Kane’s life in Orson Welles’ justly praised 1941 movie “Citizen Kane,” and the horse head refers to the unforgettable scene from Francis Ford Coppola’s 1972 film “The Godfather” when movie mogul Jack Woltz awakens in bed to find the bloody and severed head of his prized race horse lying beside him. Today, it is impossible to think or talk about these movies without conjuring up images of these objects at the same time. Harris’ choice of evocative objects contains expected items as well as some rather unexpected ones. Is it possible, for example, to compile such a book without including Dorothy’s ruby slippers from “The Wizard of Oz” (1939), Marilyn Monroe’s billowing white dress from “The Seven Year Itch,” (1955), “Casablanca’s” (1942) coveted letters of transit, Michael Myers’ “Halloween” (1978) mask, a golden ticket from “Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory” (1971), or the Red Ryder BB Gun from Bob Clark’s “A Christmas Story” (1983)? In addition to these no-brainer inclusions, I am happy to see some of my favorite cinematic evocative objects, including the big clock from Harold Lloyd’s “Safety Last” (1923), the Maltese Falcon from John Huston’s now-classic film noir “The Maltese Falcon” (1941), Indiana Jones’ well-worn hat from all films in the series (1981-2008), and the .44 Magnum wielded by Harry Callahan in the still-controversial “Dirty Harry” (1971), chosen for inclusion. Although I have seen over forty of the films Harris includes in his list, I am looking forward to adding some to my own list, including “The World of Apu” (1959), “Two of Three Things I Know About Her” (1967), “Delirious” (1991), and “Sholay” (1975). So many films, so little time. A couple of unexpected, yet very welcome inclusions are the discarded coke bottle from Jamie Uys’ quirky 1980 South African film “The Gods Must Be Crazy” and the white plastic bag blowing in the breeze that becomes a major character in Sam Mendes’ “American Beauty” (1999), a film that takes on a whole new meaning in light of the recent allegations against actor Kevin Spacey.
The coke bottle that lands in the midst of a group of Kalahari Bushmen after being thrown from an airplane becomes a metaphor for cultural change. As Harris describes its significance, “the mass-produced perfection of the Coca-Cola bottle is the ideal emblem of Western society.” Because these bottles are so ubiquitous in our culture, we “scarcely even notice them. We certainly never stop to contemplate them.” To those who have never seen them, however, they might seem divine, and possibly a sign from the gods. In fact, the “bottle’s appearance among the film’s bush people represents the encroachment of modern commerce into a virgin world.” As Harris observes, “No on-screen object has ever exposed the savagery in civilization, or the civility in a savage, as succinctly as this discarded Coke bottle.” Likewise, the blown-around plastic bag from “American Beauty” becomes much more than just a familiar object with which we line our wastebaskets. “It is Hollywood’s standout symbol of the traces of the sublime we can see around us every day.” And, much to my relief, Harris didn’t forget to include the red pill and the blue pill from 1999’s “The Matrix.” According to Harris “The idea of these two pills has penetrated popular culture to such an extent that ‘taking the blue pill’ is now a common description of any choice that allows someone to unquestionably accept things the way they appear instead of investigating the way they really are.” Of course, this idea is not new, receiving its classic treatment several thousand years ago in Plato’s allegory of the cave from “The Republic.” I agree with Harris that the “great power of the pills is that, though they seem to present such a clear binary choice, they inspire a dozen different interpretations.” And isn’t this the most compelling reason for watching movies? In case you are wondering, Harris didn’t forget to include the infamous wafer-thin mint that played such a memorable--and hilariously nauseating--role in “Monty Python’s Meaning of Life” (1983). If you remember--and you really can’t forget--the segment featuring Mr. Creosote, you will understand why this evocative object is so essential to Harris’ list. Like any book based on lists, I question why Harris didn’t include other objects, such as the key Ingrid Bergman held in her hand in Alfred Hitchcock’s “Notorious” (1946), the organ console from “Carnival of Souls” (1963), a spare tire from “Road House” (1989), the Christmas tree from “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (1989), the mysterious blue box from “Mulholland Drive” (2001), and the hitchhiker’s pocket knife from “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (1974). This list can go on and on, and I am sure you have items of your own to include. But, alas, this column has run out of space. See you next week with (hopefully) the word of the year.
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