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December 9, 2014 • The Loafer, Page 3
Volume 29 Issue #1
Publisher - Bill Williams • Editor/Graphic Arts Director - Don Sprinkle • Office Manager - Luci Tate Cover Design - Bill May Advertising - Dave Carter, Terry Patterson Contributing Staff - Jim Kelly, Andy Ross, Ken Silvers, Mark Marquette, Jessica Gilliam Published by Tree Street Media, LLC., P.O. Box 3238, Johnson City, TN 37602 Phone: 423/283-4324 FAX - 423/283-4369 www.theloaferonline.com • info@theloaferonline.com e-mail: editorial@theloaferonline.com (editorial) adcopy@theloaferonline.com (advertising) All advertisements are accepted and published by the publisher upon the representation that the agency and/or advertiser is authorized to publish the entire contents and subject matter thereof. The agency and/or advertiser will indemnify and save the publisher harmless from any loss of expense resulting from claims or suits based upon contents of any advertisement,including claims or suits for defamation, libel, right of privacy, plagiarism, and copyright infringement.
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The christmas season is a good time to start thinking about helping other people. This includes providing food, clothing and toys for families to enable them to experience the joy of the Christmas Season. Giving warmth, love and hope. That’s what Christmas should be all about. A time to share our good fortune with our neighbors in need across the world or locally. We are pleased to provide you with a list of christmas related charity programs and humanitarian organizations. Some small, some big, some local. But all good!
Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennesee
The mission of Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee is to feed the hungry by securing and distributing food and grocery products to regional agencies that provide services to the needy, ill, children and elderly in Northeast Tennessee. Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee works to close the gap on hunger in our eight-county region providing food assistance through charities, faith-based organizations and food bank programs that serve the needy. Assistance is provided in Carter, Greene, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington Counties. www.netfoodbank.org/
Alternative Gifts International
The global mission of AGI is to send authentic, lifegiving gifts to a needy world – gifts that build a partnership with people in crisis and that protect and preserve the earth’s endangered environment. www.altgifts.org/
Angel Tree
Angel Tree is a ministry delivering love in the form of Christmas gifts and a message of hope to children and families. Look for one in your area or local church.
Christmas Spirit Foundation
Help needy children and families in the United States during the holiday season, and promote environmental stewardship throughout the year. www.christmasspiritfoundation.org
Holiday Project
The Holiday Project’s mission is to enrich the experience of the holidays by arranging visits to people confined to nursing homes, hospitals and other institutions. www.holidayproject.info/
Make a Wish
Make this holiday season special by helping a child’s dream come true. Make a Wish’s unique holiday donation options will help grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. www.wish.org
My Two Front Teeth
My Two Front Teeth offers a personalized online gift-giving experience to aid underprivileged children. These children are selected through community organizations and allowed to individually pick their one holiday wish. www.mytwofrontteeth.org/
Toys for Tots
Donate a new toy or give a donation to help make Christmas a little brighter for a needy child in your community. www.toysfortots.org
Salvation Army
When you give to The Salvation Army, you change the lives of thousands of children, families, and adults in desperate need. Your generosity makes a powerful difference. So thank you for giving. www.salvationarmyusa.org/
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Food drive under way at Natural History Museum Visitors to the East Tennessee State University and General Shale Natural History Museum and Visitor Center at the Gray Fos-
sil Site will receive $1 off the price through Dec. 16. of admission with the donation of “We are happy to partner with a food item for Second Harvest Second Harvest Food Bank this Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee holiday season,” said Dr. Blaine Schubert, museum director. “It’s a great way to help them meet the region’s needs as well as to give our visitors lower admission prices.” Some of the most-needed items are cereal, rice, dried beans, canned meat, canned soups, spaghetti sauce, pasta, peanut butter, canned fruits and vegetables, macaroni and cheese, baby food and diapers. The ETSU and General Shale Natural History Museum and Gray Fossil Site continually showcase the 5-million-year-old Gray Fossil Site and its unique ecosystem. New exhibits representing
recent finds are added periodically throughout the year. Currently, rhino and turtle display cases are on display. There are also special events held at the Museum, such as the monthly “Lunchtime Lecture Series,” “Fossil and Artifact ID Nights” every other month, and numerous ongoing youth programs. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and is located 1.8 miles off Exit 13 on Interstate 26. For more information, call (866) 202-6223 or visit the museum at www.etsu. edu/naturalhistorymuseum. For disability accommodations, call the ETSU Office of Disability Services at (423) 439-8346.
13th Annual Brenda Smith Memorial Charity Drive On Saturday December 13th Smith Brothers Harley-Davidson will be hosting our 11th annual Brenda Smith memorial Charity Drive. Every year since the death of Brenda (owner and mom to Jason, David and Chris) on November 1, 2004 we have selected a charitable organization to support during the holidays. This year we will celebrate with ten local school children and their families. Smith Brothers has collected toys, clothes, and items for the entire
family. In addition we collected sleeping bags, blankets and coats for the elderly and homeless. We do so to honor Brenda’s memory and serve our community. Please join us on Saturday December 13th to celebrate. www.smithbrosharley.com/
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Christmas
at Historic Blountville
Historic Blountville does it right when it comes to ringing in the Christmas Season! For starters, how about sipping on some hot chocolate as you enjoy an oldfashioned Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at 6 PM on Thursday, December 11. Hon. Mayor Richard Venable will do the honors of lighting the tree. Following the tree lighting, hear the “Sounds of Christmas” presented by the Blountville Middle School Choir under the direction of Darren Malcolm. Specialty food and drink will also be available on Thursday from 11 AM to 8:30 PM in front of the Historic Sullivan County Courthouse, and will include funnel cakes, deep fried oreos, hot dogs, pork rinds, nachos, hot chocolate, coffee, cappucino and more. As an added bonus, the Old Deery Inn will be open for tours from 6:30 PM to
8:30 PM on Thursday! The tours will feature the Cassidy Methodist Church Handbell Ensemble and a presentation of Christmas carols on the old-time grand piano. On Saturday, December 13, see the Blountville Ruritan Annual Christmas Parade starting at 2 PM. Following the parade, a tour of historic homes and other buildings will be available from 3-6 PM beginning at the Anderson Townhouse.Suggested donation for the tours is $5 for adults and $2 for children 12 and under. A beans and cornbread supper will also be available behind the Old Deery Inn. For additional information, please contact the Sullivan County Department of Archives and Tourism at (423) 323-4660. See the full schedule of events athistoricsullivan.com. Come join us as we ring in the Christmas season!
Santa to stop by the Johnson City Community Health Center Word has come from the North Pole that Santa Claus will be stopping by to visit with area children at the Johnson City Community Health Center (JCCHC) on Thursday, Dec. 11. Santa will be at the JCCHC from 3-6:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend. Photos with Santa will be taken at the event. The JCCHC, which is operated
by East Tennessee State University’s College of Nursing, is located at 2151 Century Lane, just off State of Franklin Road behind Woodridge Hospital. It serves the uninsured, underinsured and insured. For more information about the facility, call 423-926-2500 or visit http://www.etsu.edu/nursing/practice/sites/johnsoncity. aspx.
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Dave Koz & Friends Christmas Tour 2014
Wednesday, December 10th at Niswonger Performing Arts Center The Dave Koz & Friends Christmas Tour will perform at NPAC on Wednesday, December 10th at 7:30pm. With a career that spans twenty years and a dozen albums, Grammy nominated saxophonist Dave Koz has established himself as one of the most prominent figures in contemporary music. Koz has also become synonymous with the holiday season, thanks to his highenergy Christmas performance. Now in its 17th year, the Dave Koz & Friends Christmas Tour is an uplifting show with widespread appeal. Joining Dave on this year’s tour are three special guests, including Jonathan Butler, Christopher Cross, and Maysa. Butler has earned accolades in the R&B, contemporary jazz and gospel fields. Cross is a Grammy winner, known for such Top 10 hits as “Sailing”, “Ride Like the Wind”, and “Arthur’s Theme”. With 10 solo albums to her credit, Maysa has made a name for herself as a Soul Train award winner and Grammy nominee. Together, the quartet offers a fresh take on holiday classics and other selections that capture the spirit of the season. Also making a special appearance is Greeneville’s very own Greeneville Middle School Honor’s Choir. Born and raised in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, Koz began playing the saxophone as a way to land a spot in his brother’s band. “The saxophone became my best friend, my most trusted ally”, he says. “It enabled me to communicate feelings that I didn’t have the words for.” After earning a degree in mass communications from UCLA, Koz took the leap into a career as a professional musician. In the years since, the saxophone has opened numerous doors for Koz. He’s played with such artists as Burt
Bacharach, Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, Celine Dion, Shelby Lynne, Kenny Loggins, U2, Barry Manilow, Michael McDonald, Luther Vandross, and Rod Stewart. A platinum selling artist with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Koz is also known as a humanitarian, entrepreneur, radio host, and instrumental music advocate. Tickets are $50 for orchestra level seating, $45 for mezzanine level seating, and $40 for balcony level
seating. Tickets may be purchased online at www.npacgreeneville. com, in person at the NPAC box office, or by calling 423-638-1679. NPAC offers online seat selection and no fee ticketing. The box office hours are Monday through Friday, 10 am until 5 pm. The 1130 seat performing arts center is located adjacent to the campus of Greeneville High School in Greeneville, TN. For venue information, and to purchase tickets, please visit www.npacgreeneville.com.
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UVa-Wise Bluegrass Band & AES Jamming Bobcats Featured at Heartwood
The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail presents the UVa-Wise Bluegrass Band and the Jamming Bobcats from Abingdon Elementary School in concert on Thursday, December 11th from 6:30 to 8:00 PM at Heartwood in Abingdon, VA. The concert is part of The Crooked Road’s Youth Music Series. The UVa-Wise Bluegrass Band had humble beginnings. During the concluding performance by the East Tennessee State University Bluegrass Band as part of the UVa-Wise 50th anniversary celebration, some questioned why the college did not have a bluegrass band of its own. Richard Galyean, the college’s band director and instructor of music, decided that night that there would be a bluegrass band in the near future. A few short years later, with only a few students, the band began. They played several concerts and enjoyed a receptive audience. The next year, UVa-Wise Guitar In-
Ms. Tammy Martin, and Ms. Don- The music series is sponsored by na Davis. This group is dedicated The Crooked Road, Heartwood, to instilling a love of old time and Virginia Commission for the Arts, bluegrass music to future genera- and the National Endowment for the Arts. tions. Heartwood: Southwest VirginThe Crooked Road Music Series features youth music per- ia’s Artisan Gateway is located off formers and showcases venues of I-81 at Exit 14 in Abingdon, VA, the Crooked Road region. These and features food, music, and craft events, along with open jams on of Southwest Virginia. Admission the 1st, 3rd, (and 5th) Thursday to the concert is free and donaof every month, are hosted at tions will be accepted for Crooked Heartwood. A complete schedule Road’s Traditional Music EducaUVa-Wise Bluegrass Band (photo-Shannon Scott) for the music series is available tion Program (TMEP). For more structor Chris Rose was brought in are learning about music from on The Crooked Road website information on The Crooked Road to oversee the ensemble, and the around the world that has influ- at www.thecrookedroad.org and Music Series call (276) 492-2409 or group grew by leaps and bounds. enced the musical culture of the at www.heartwoodvirginia.org. email: info@thecrookedroad.org. Today, the ensemble boasts a stu- Appalachian region. Students dent who has recorded his own learn to sing songs and play inCDs and lists the bluegrass band struments including fiddle, banjo, as one of the reasons he chose to mandolin, guitar, ukulele, dulciattend UVa-Wise. The group now mer, autoharp, and harmonica. performs at festivals and events The Jamming Bobcats have perthroughout the region. formed at PTA meetings, the The Jamming Bobcats from Glade Spring Farmer’s Market, Abingdon Elementary School is and The Crooked Road Youth Muan after school program for 3rd, sic Festival at Heartwood. Teach4th, and 5th grade students who ers include Mrs. Barbara Walton, AES Jamming Bobcats (photo-Sidney Burns)
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January Jams 2015 Line-Up Released The Barter Theatre and the Abingdon Music Experience team up for the 3rd annual January Jams Series beginning January 9th. Grammy Award winning and nationally recognized artists will perform a total of 7 concerts to run on Fridays and Saturdays during January. “The Barter Theatre is such a special venue, which offers a uniquely intimate concert experience” explains Sara Saavedra Cardinale, Special Events Coordinator for the ACVB. “The previous two years have been met with great reviews, and highlights Abingdon as a music destination for visitors and residents alike.” Brought to you in part by sponsors, Eastman Credit Union, Walling Distributing and Ecological Energy Systems, the schedule for January is as follows: Friday, January 9th Jill Andrews with Dom Flemons Trio Jill Andrews began her music career in 2004 by co-founding the alt-country group, the everybody fields. After releasing three albums and touring the country with the band, she decided to make a go of it on her own. And in 2009, she released her selftitled EP, followed up with the full-length album, The Mirror in 2011. Jill has been on
the road with The Avett Brothers and many other super talented folks. Her songs have been showcased on such shows as Grey’s Anatomy, Nashville, Hart of Dixie, American Idol...etc. She just finished recording a new record, “The War Inside,” and is working on an upcoming release date for late 2014/early 2015. Jill currently resides in beautiful Nashville, TN. Dom Flemons is the “American Songster,” pulling from traditions of old-time folk music to create new sounds. Formerly part of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, which he cofounded with Rhiannon Giddens and Justin Robinson, he has played at a variety of festivals spanning from the Newport Folk Festival to Bonnaroo, in addition to renowned venues such as the Grand Ole Opry. In July 2014, Dom released his third solo record with Music Maker Relief Foundation, and his first since leaving the Carolina Chocolate Drops. Prospect Hill finds Flemons digging deeply into ragtime, Piedmont blues,
spirituals, southern folk music, string band music, jug band music, fife and drum music, and ballads idioms with showmanship and humor, reinterpreting the music to suit 21st century audiences. He was featured on NPR’s Fresh Air with Terry Gross and his new album has received praise from The Boston Globe, Paste Magazine, Living Blues Magazine, and more. Saturday, January 10th David Bromberg Quintet Bromberg’s sensitive and versatile approach to guitar-playing earned him jobs playing the Village “basket houses” for tips, the occasional paying gig, and employment as a backing musician for Tom Paxton, Jerry Jeff Walker and Rosalie Sorrels, among others. He became a first-call, “hired gun” guitarist for recording sessions, ultimately playing on hundreds of records by artists
including Bob Dylan (New Morning, Self Portrait, Dylan), Link Wray, The Eagles, Ringo Starr, Willie Nelson, and Carly Simon. An unexpected and wildly successful solo spot for 600,000 concert goers at the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival in Great Britain led to a solo deal with Columbia Records, for whom David recorded four albums. His eponymous 1971 debut included “The Holdup,” songwriting collaboration with former Beatle George Harrison, who also played slide guitar on the track. David also met the Grateful Dead and wound up with four of their members playing on his next two albums. Friday, January 16th – Heritage Blues Orchestra with Holy Ghost Tent Revival The grit of low-down country and urban blues with the bold brass of New Orleans; the hand-clapping fervor of gospel punctuated with fiery postmodern, jazz-infused horn arrangements; the haunting cries of
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January Jams .... Continued from page 9 work songs and pulsating drums that reach back to the real roots of it all. You’ll journey across the Middle Passage, be driven down Highway 49 from Clarksdale to New Orleans, go from chain gangs and juke joints to orchestra pits, church pews and even back porches. HBO’s music is an inspiring testament to the enduring power, possibilities and boundless beauty of African-American music. Holy Ghost Tent Revival is a six-piece rock & roll band from North Carolina, driven by an exhilarating live show that has uplifted audiences since the band formed in 2007. For the past seven years, they have been honing their unique sound, which NPR describes as that of a “soul-rock horn band that recalls 60s and 70s classic-rock influences such as The Band and The Flying Burrito Brothers, contemporary indie-rock acts like Dr. Dog, and New Orleans brassband jazz.” Saturday, January 17th – The Blind Boys of Alabama with Jarekus Singleton Nearly seventy-five years after they hit their first notes together, the Blind Boys of Alabama are exceptional not only in their longevity, but also in the breadth of their catalog and their relevance to contemporary roots music. Since 2000, they’ve won five Grammys and four Gospel Music Awards, and have delivered their spiritual message to countless listeners. “We appreciate the accolades and we thank God for them,” says Jimmy Carter, a founding member and the Blind Boys’ leader for five years now. “But we’re not interesting in money or anything other than singing gospel. We had no idea when we started that we would make it this far. The secret to our longevity is, we love what we do. And when you love what you do, that keeps you motivated. At just 29 years old, Jarekus Singleton is a musical trailblazer with a bold vision for the future of the blues. Springing from the same Mississippi soil as Charley Patton, Muddy Waters and B.B. King, Singleton’s cutting-edge sound—equally rooted in rap, rock and blues traditions—is all his own. He melds hip-hop wordplay, rock energy and R&B grooves with contemporary and traditional blues, turning audiences of all ages into devoted fans. With his untamed guitar licks and strong, soulful voice effortlessly moving from ferocious and funky to slow and steamy to smoking hot, Singleton is a fresh, electrifying bluesman bursting at the seams with talent. Saturday, January 24th – Greensky Bluegrass with The Last Bison The five members of Greensky Bluegrass have forged a defiant, powerful sound that, while rooted in classic stringband Americana, extends outwards with a fearless,
exploratory zeal. The tension and release between these components – tradition and innovation, prearranged songs and improvisation, acoustic tones and electric volume – is what makes them so thrillingly dynamic, in concert and on record. That their sound is so seamless, so organic, is testament to Greensky’s enduring vision and tireless dedication. Since their first rumblings at the start of the millennium, they have emerged as relentless road warriors, creating a captivating live show while at the same time developing a knack for evocative, disarming song craft. In 2012 The Last Bison seemingly rose from the marshes of southeastern Virginia to captivate the national music scene with a rare blend of music that NPR dubbed, “Classical influenced southern folk rock.” Having drawn comparisons in the past to indie superstars the likes of Mumford & Sons, The Decemberists, and Fleet Foxes, their most recent project harvests a more dynamic, and anthemic sound from the soil of their folk roots. Thursday, January 29th – Mavis Staples with Cody Chesnutt She is, simply, a Legend. For more than sixty years, from her early days with The Staples Singers to her recent 2013 Grammy Award, Mavis Staples has been a legend of the Gospel and Blues worlds. With her bold new album, One True Vine, the legendary vocalist adds a remarkable new chapter to an historic career. Staples is a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner, and a National Heritage Fellowship Award recipient. VH1 named her one of the 100 Greatest Women of Rock and Roll, and Rolling Stone listed her as one of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. Cody Chesnutt is a soul troubadour whose frank, socially conscious ruminations on life continue to challenge popular notions of what modern soul music can look and sound like. A song from The Headphone Masterpiece was re-tooled as “The Seed 2.0” for the Roots’ seminal album Phrenology, exposing Cody’s music to a wider mainstream audience. The song was nominated for two moon man statuettes at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, and his own album was nominated for the prestigious Shortlist Music Prize that same year. He opens with a rare, solo acoustic performance at the historic Barter Theatre. Doors open at 7:15 and the shows will start at 8pm. Ticket prices will vary for each show. Weekend and Series passes are available, as well as hotel packages. For more information and tickets call Barter Theatre Box Office at 276-628-3991 or go online at www. bartertheatre.com. A complete lineup of the 2015 Abingdon Music Experience series can be found online atwww.abingdonmusicexperience.com.
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Asheville transplant will give a solo performance featuring the 21 string West African Kora
Sean Gaskell will give a solo acoustic set on the Kora, an ancient 21-stringed harp from West Africa. Gaskell features traditional songs of the Mandinka people from Gambia, Senegal, Mali, Guinea, and Guinea Bissau. The show will take place at The Acoustic Coffeehouse, 415 W. Walnut St. Johnson City TN and will be held on Sunday, December 14th at 8pm. Admission is free, although donations are encouraged. Sean Gaskell features traditional songs on the Kora, a 21 string harp that he learned how to play throughout the course of multiple visits to its homeland in Gambia, West Africa. The Kora is native to the Mandinka people who live within the countries of Gambia, Senegal, Mali, Guinea, and Guinea Bissau. The music is traditionally played by oral and musical historians known as Griots (Gree-ohs).
The Kora is a very melodic and seemingly peaceful instrument, which is contrary to its musical repertoire. Many songs tell ancient stories of war and hardship, while others praise people of high political status and those who helped expand the Mande empire. While the Kora is only 300 years old, some commonly played songs can be traced back 800 years to the founding of the Mande empire. Gaskell has studied extensively under the instruction of Malamini Jobarteh and Moriba Kuyateh, both of Brikama, Gambia. He was first inspired to play by Kane Mathis, a Kora player formerly based in Seattle who has lead “The Kora Band” and “The Sahel Band”. Gaskell relocated from Seattle to Asheville, North Carolina in 2014. He has been featured at a number of music festivals in the US, Gambia, and Senegal. www.seangaskell.com
Family Movie Matinee @ the Library Gray Library • Saturday, December 13, 10:00 a.m. Jonesborough Library • Saturday, December 13, 2:00 p.m
Join us at the Washington County Libraries on Saturday, December 13 for our Family Movie Matinees, 10:00 a.m. at the Gray Library, and 2:00 p.m. at the Jonesborough Library. The movie at Jonesborough is a film based on cartoon characters: the time-travelling adventures of an advanced canine and his adopted son, as they endeavor to fix a time rift they created. The movie at Gray is based on
a well-loved children’s book: on Christmas Eve, a doubting boy boards a magical train that’s headed to the North Pole and Santa Claus’ home. Our show time features free drinks, candy, and popcorn. Our Family Movie Matinee is a free event sponsored by the Friends of the Washington County Library. For more information, please call the Gray Library at 477-1550, or Jonesborough Library at 753-1800.
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The VHCC Arts Array Series Spencer-Miller Concerts
featuring The McLain Family Band
It is with great pleasure and excitement that the VHCC Arts Array series Spencer-Miller concerts will be featuring the McLain Family Band on Sunday afternoon December 14th 2014 at 3:00. The concert will be at Sinking Spring Presbyterian Church on Main St in
Abingdon. The concert is free for all area students and 10.00 for the general public. For many decades, the enthusiastic outstanding McLain family band has been performing, and spreading the wonderful traditions of bluegrass and Appala-
chian folk music. Founded by their father Raymond K. McLain, the family group has made 14 international tours under the sponsorship of the US State Department. In addition to concerts at the Grand Ole Opry, they also played with symphony orchestras featuring works with McLain themes. They have also appeared at Carnegie Hall and at the Lincoln Center. Raymond W. McLain leads the band today and is most likely the best known outside of the family band. He is an excellent fiddler and banjoist and has built a long career that includes working with Jim and Jesse’s Virginia Boys and harmonica player Mike Stevens. Raymond currently is the Director of the Traditional Music center at Morehead State in KY. He previously led the ETSU Bluegrass and Old Time program in Johnson City TN.
JCPD offers holiday shopping safety tips With the holiday shopping season upon us, the Johnson City Police Department would like to offer citizens the following safety tips. - One of the best philosophies to fight theft is simple: “Harden the target.” Do not become an easy victim – keep valuables not only locked away but hidden. A burglar is much more likely to take something that is left in plain sight. - Try to shop during busier hours – the crowds may be larger but there will be more people nearby to help if you need it. - Don’t shop alone. Go with a friend or family member when possible. - Do not leave purses unattended in shopping carts. - Do not carry large amounts of cash. - Always lock your vehicle, in parking lots and at home. - Be alert for telephone and internet scams. Do not give out personal information. Only make online purchases from secure, trustworthy websites. - Most importantly, be aware of personal safety. Be aware of what and who is around you. Park in well-lit spaces, and keep your keys in your hand when going in and out of stores – the less time you stand in a parking lot trying to unlock a car and place packages inside, the better. As you leave the store, stop and scan the area between you and your vehicle. If you see something suspicious, go back inside the store and contact store security or call 911. “Being the victim of a crime can certainly dampen the holiday spirit,” said Police Chief Mark Sirois. “These common sense measures can help everyone stay safe and enjoy the season.”
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Intercity Ballet Theatre Welcomes Home a Kingsport Native to the
35 Year Christmas Tradition of The Nutcracker Returning to Kingsport will be our own Katie Burke dancing the role of Arabian. Katie, a graduate of Gate City High School, has gone on to receive her Bachlor Degree in Dance from Pointe Park University; one of the prestigious dance universities in the country. She has since joined the Charlottesville Ballet Company, and is now a free lance dancer while continuing her PreMed studies. Joining Katie in the role of Arabian will be Weylin Gomez of Pointe Park University. Intercity Ballet Theatre of Kingsport, with the help of area sponsors such as Eastman Chemical Company, Eastman Recreation Club, WKPT TV/AM, WTFM, Kingsport Town Center Mall, and Hampton Inn will present it’s 35th 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 11th and 12th at 9:30 a.m. These special performances will be presented free of charge, as they have been for the past eight years, to all area students and teachers, with additional seating for the public at a nominal fee. The public is invited to enjoy the evening performances on Friday, December 12, 2014 and Saturday, December 13, 2014, 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. Returning to Kingsport is Professional dancer Pablo Infante. Born in Tijuana, Mexico, he began studying ballet at Centro de Ballet y Arte. In 1998 he joined the Compania de Danza de Baja California, and in 2002 he was promoted to Principal Dancer. In 2003 Pablo came to the US and joined the California Ballet Company, where by mid-season he was promoted to the rank of Soloist. His repertoire includes featured roles in full length ballets such as The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet, Carmen, Cinderella, Who Cares, Ballet Imperial, Spanish Serenades, and Suite Vivaldi among many others. Pablo has also appeared as a guest in The Youth American Grand Prix, The San Diego Sym-
phony, The San Diego Opera, The Ballet Conservatory of San Diego, The California Ballet School, Ballet West, and in The International Mainly Mozart Festival. Intercity Ballet Theatre welcomes Pablo who will be dancing the role of Snow King and Cavalier. The role of Sugar Plum and Snow Queen will be danced by
Cassandra Lund. Cassandra received most of her dance training at New West Ballet School under the direction of Eugenia Keefer, where her roles range from Clara to the Sugar Plum Fairy and include the title role in Cinderella and Princess Aurora in the Sleep-
Intercity.... Continued on page 18
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Reconnect with Antiquity Amid the Starry Sky “The sad and solemn night Hath yet her multitude of cheerful fires; The glorious host of light Walk the dark hemisphere till she retires; All through her silent watches, gliding slow, Her constellations come, and climb the heavens, and go.”
William Cullen Bryant circa 1860
A moonless December week like this one is what turns people on to amateur astronomy by appealing to the genetic, celestial DNA that seems to flow through mankind. The holiday season is filled with nostalgia of seasons past. The memories are both good and bad, and tempered in our minds by our personal growth and ability to be at peace with one’s self. A quiet visit under the starry umbrella of a clear and cool night sky can help one mediate, contemplate and maybe even live with what they can’t rise above. And if you go out and recognize the mighty Orion the Hunter taking command of the night, you are well on the way to being in touch with our stargazing brothers and sisters thousands of years ago. To gaze upon the stars, the Moon and planets is to make a connection with every human being who has looked up at the dazzling night sky and wondered. That’s because when it comes to the pattern of stars tossed the sky, no one owns the original. These are the same stars of Orion—or Taurus or Gemini—that all people who’ve walked the Earth have laid their eyes upon. It’s exciting for me to think about not just great astronomers like Galileo and Copernicus looking at these same stars. But people like the Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, Jesus and the Egyptian builders of the pyramids, all saw the same stars I do tonight. There are 6,000 or so stars seen with the naked eye from both hemispheres of Earth, and their
positions have changed very little during the 10,000 years of civilized man. To the stargazers over the centuries, these patterns of stars have become friendly acquaintances whose positions give us a sense of time and familiarity with the seasons. Monuments like Stonehenge were built to the rhythm of the stellar seasons, while civilizations worshiped the sighting of certain stars which seemed to trigger the time to plant or harvest. And then there are the mystical events that often terrorized ancient people when the Sun disappeared behind the Moon, and the Moon disappears in the Earth’s shadow—the total solar and lunar eclipses. Even though each star in the night is moving through the Universe at speeds around 30,000 mph, the distance between the stars is so vast that it takes millions of years to see any change in the familiar constellations. So, nothing seen tonight in 2014 is any different than what Moses of The Bible saw thousands of years ago. Confucius was inspired by the same stars that the writers of the Psalms when they so beautifully penned the praises to the Creator. “The heavens declare the Glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork.” Psalm 19:1 After years of watching the parade of constellations rise and set, a history of people, places and things become engrained in the subconscious of the avid stargazer. And it is those memories, like seeing distant relatives, which draws me to the stars, no matter what time of year. But Winter is always special, as the brightest stars and boldest constellation patterns are on display. Many of the brightest stars of the night have distinctly Arabic names, kept by the star-mappers
over antiquity. Orion’s shoulders are Betelgeuse and Bellatrix; his knees are Rigel and Saiph. The three stars of the distinctly angled belt of the giant hunter are, from left to right, Alnitak, Alnilam and Mintaka. The name of each bright star adds to the personality of the night sky. Let your imagination run wild as you realize each star is like a human—a specific size and temperament—each star with its own alien planets and their moons, as well as possible comets, asteroids and other objects yet unknown. These are also the winter nights to behold the brightest star of all, Sirius, well below Orion and also called the “Dog Star” in the Big Dog, Canis Major. And way above it is Procyon, in the Little Dog, Canis Minor. Above Orion is the “V”-shaped stars making the horns of Taurus the Bull, one of the oldest recognized star patterns going back to forgotten civilizations. The animal’s eye is reddish Aldebaran, “The Follower.” Just what this star is following is in the Bull’s shoulder, the cluster of Seven Sisters, or The Pleiades, a source of celestial folklore from the Chinese to the Native North Americans. Another
fainter star cluster, The Hyades is at the point of the “V,” and they are the half-sisters of The Pleiades in mythology. A purely Roman constellation is above Orion and another ancient one. Founding brothers of Rome, mythical Castor and Pollux head the side by side string of stars making up Gemini the Twins. A Greek man with a strange name of Auriga is the inventor of the chariot. And he is immortalized by a lopsided wheel shape group of stars. Auriga’s brightest star, Capella, is a yellow one. Different cultures in different eras of mankind have arranged the stars and given them names in their native tongues. Whole cultures have put the stars into patterns that immortalize their gods and heroes. Today, the names of 88 constellations are universally agreed upon, as are the stars names on the modern celestial charts. The patterns of the constellations look the way they are only from our perspective in the Solar System. From any planet or object orbiting our Sun, the constellations look the same. But if we rocketed to the nearest stars, that would
change the perspective and alter the familiar dot-to-dot patterns. Connecting those points of light into arbitrary formations have merely served as landmarks to navigate the celestial realm as seen from Earth. Some stars are near, some are far, but seen side-by-side they make up patterns that are given borders by their specific sky coordinates. Modern light pollution has robbed the night of its faintest stars once seen by the naked eye. Few of us can see the Milky Way from our own suburban backyards. And the number of stars realistically seen from an average neighborhood is maybe half of what it was just 50 years ago. When someone gets in the country or mountains on a dark, moonless night and takes the time to look up, their dark adapted eyes can leave them breathless with the splendor of the night. The many multitudes of stars that can be seen from a dark observing sight gives the 21st Century stargazer a hint at what could be seen in the night sky just 200 years ago when there was no electricity. For thousands of years, the skies were so dark for civilized cultures to ponder. Modern man can hardly imagine the impact. The false science of astrology is one lasting influence. Again, unlike the Mona Lisa painting in the Louvre, or the statute of the Pieta at the Vatican, no one owns the original when it comes to the night vault of stars overhead. They are there for the asking, ready for you to examine, marvel at or mediate upon. Looking up, like every person who has walked the Earth, gives you some cosmic connection to be enjoyed and cherished. And this moonless December week is a terrific time to make that connection…something I’ll be enjoying, and hope you will, too.
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December 9, 2014 • The Loafer, Page 17
Celestial events in the skies for the week of Dec. 9 - Dec. 15, 2014, as compiled for The Loafer by Mark D. Marquette. of the Summer Triangle are still hanging in there. Altair, to the left, and much brighter Vega, right, are visible in the 6 pm twilight, and set around 8:30 pm. Vega in Lyra the Harp is almost circumpolar— visible all night—and will be the North Star in about 10,000 years.
Sat. Dec. 13
Tonight and tomorrow night is the peak time to see Gemini Meteors. The Last Quarter Moon is Sunday night, rising about midnight and putting a little damper on the meteor shower. But the brightest ones will shine through the moonlight.
Sun. Dec. 14
The best meteor shower of the year, the Geminids, peak this Saturday and Sunday night when after midnight you might see between 50-130 meteors an hour. Even more reliable than the better known Perseids of August, this meteor shower is often ignored because of the cold weather and hectic holiday activities before Christmas. But if you get up and gawk up a few hours, you will be justly rewarded.
Tues. Dec. 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.
Wed. Dec. 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.
Thurs. Dec. 11
In 1972, this was blast off day from the Moon for Apollo 17, On this 1972 date in space his- which linked up to its command tory, Apollo 17 lands on the Moon module piloted by astronaut Ron in the Taurus-Littrow highlands, Evans. Their booty was about 250 the last time humans have set foot pounds of rock and soil form the on an alien world. Commander Moon. It is now 42 years since Gene Cernan, 80, and astronaut- American footprints walked the geologist Harrison Schmitt, 78, chalky dust of the lunar surface. spent three days on the surface Bets are it’ll be Chinese boots makand drove 21 miles on their Lunar ing the next surface impressions, Rover exploring. Cernan became maybe in 6 or 7 years. And the a corporate leader in the rocket Russians are talking of going back industry, and Schmitt served one to the Moon…but American have term as US Senator from his na- no firm plans. tive New Mexico and advocates Mon. Dec. 15 The north constellations are returning to the Moon to mine its highlighted by Cassiopeia the energy source of oxygen three. Queen, whose five brightest stars Fri. Dec. 12 Are you getting through the cold now look like an “M” branded in thinking of summertime memo- the sky. There are several wonderries? Well there are still signs of ful clusters of stars in this constelsummer lingering in the west- lation, easy targets for binoculars. ern skies as two of the three stars
Page 18, The Loafer • December 9, 2014
Intercity .... Continued from page 13
The Loafer... Starting our 29th Year serving the Tri-Cities
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ing Beauty. Ms. Lund began teaching dance at the young age of 16. She currently teaches at high school dance camps across the Western United States for the United Spirit Association, where she serves as a head instructor, adjudicator and a member of the Program Development Team. Ms Lund has preformed with the Mojalet Dance Collective (modern), the Palomar College Dance Ensemble (jazz), and in the year 2000 joined the California Ballet Company, rising quickly to the status of Principle Dancer. Her roles with California Ballet include Alice in Alice and Wonderland, Snow White in Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker, Giselle in Giselle and Lucy in Dracula. She has taught and choreographed for numerous studios, high school dance teams and competition ensembles throughout Southern California, has coached a nationally ranked High School Dance Team, and has served as an assistant choreographer for the Super Bowl half time show in 1999. She currently resides in Escondido, CA. 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. Chloe Rose and Sara Stewart, will be sharing the role of Clara, with Mollie Kate Blalock as understudy. Sam Stewart, ( yes #15) will dance the role of Nicholas, Aaron Jackson will be dancing the role of Fritz. Sharing the role of Mecanical Doll are Madeline Howe
and Hallie Miracle. Devil Doll will be danced by Caroline Luethke, Lexie Vaughn, Ben Blevins and Colin Rose. Dew Drop Fairies will be Madison Bailey, Beth Hartsock, and Chloe Lowe. Sharing the role of Snow Demi Soloist will be Amanda Alom, Ashlyn Jackson, Caroline Luethke, and Sarah Tanner. Dancing the role of Reed Pipes will be Danielle Bear, Sofia Lawson, Kristen Looney, Ashley Miller, and Whitney Welch. The role of Spanish will be shared by Danielle Luethke and Taylor Hubbard. The role of Tree Fairies will be danced by Samantha Hess and Chloie Ottinger, with Chloe Lowe as Understudy. The roles of Clara’s parents will be danced by Jeff and Amy Luethke and the role of Grandfather will be danced by Darrell 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. Ben Blevins will be dancing the role of Trepak. Dancing the role of Chinese will be Tori Donahue, Phil Clemons, and Hannah Gossett. Look for many community leaders in the roles as Party Parents dancing with their daughters in the role of Ma Petite. Tickets for the evening performances will be on sale beginning November 22nd at Kingsport Town Center Mall across from Santa Claus’ Workshop, 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 35th anniversary of The Nutcracker is sure to be memorable. Former dancers and families are invitied to a special recognition at the end of both 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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Mindfulness In Times of Madness (the Holidays) The Appalachian Dharma & Meditation Center (ADMC) is offering a free workshop Saturday, December 13, on enjoying the holidays with the help of mindfulness. It’s called “Mindfulness In Times of Madness” and runs from 1 to 3 p.m. It is open to all those who want to learn how mindfulness and meditation can help in stressful situations such as the busy holiday season. The session will include information on the effects of mindfulness and meditation on self-control; objectivity; mental clarity; emotional intelligence; and the ability to relate to others and one’s self with kindness, acceptance and compassion. Chairs and cushions are available for the comfort of the attendees. The facilitator will lead the group in guided imagery and meditations of noble silence ranging in periods from 10 – 20 minutes. The session leader is Linda Good, a licensed psychotherapist in private practice in Johnson City as well as a student of Buddhism. Information concerning Ms. Good is available at the “Weekly Groups” link on the ADMC website: www.dharma4et.org. The session is free of charge. ADMC is located at 108 West 10th Avenue, Johnson City, TN on the basement level. All events at ADMC are open to “danas” or donations but it is not required. For additional information, please email dharma4et@ gmail.com.
Page 20, The Loafer • December 9, 2014
Gerhard & Mize return to Northeast State for holiday concert
They are back and better than ever. Guitar legends Ed Gerhard and Bill Mize return to Northeast State Community College for a free Christmas concert on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. in the Wellmont Regional Center for Performing Arts Theatre on the College’s main campus at Blountville. The duo will perform instrumental Christmas and holiday favorites as well as selected original works. Gerhard is a multiple Grammy Award winner. His guitar work can be heard on recordings by Arlo Guthrie and Jorma Kaukonen and in the Ken Burns film Mark Twain. He has released two critically praised holiday albums, Christmas and On a Cold Winter’s Night. Gerhard celebrates his latest CD “There and Gone,” a collection of original compositions and covers including a stunning arrangement of “Imagine/Across the Universe,” “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” and a concert favorite on Weissenborn, “Killing the Blues.” Mize is also a Grammy-winning guitarist and renowned instrumentalist. He has released albums Sugarlands, Tender Explorations, Coastin’, and Joyful Noise. His release, The Angel’s Share, was called one of the “essential acoustic albums” to own by Acoustic Guitar Magazine. Bill has put the finishing touches on his newest recording, The Back of Beyond. This recording pays homage to Bill’s Smoky Mountain heritage with brand new acoustic guitar compositions, plus a stirring cover of Piazzolla’s “Milonga del Angel”. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, visit billmize.com and www.virturerecords.com. For additional information, contact 423.279.7669.
Attention: Veterans and immediate family members Are you a veteran or a family member facing a rental eviction, utility disconnect, homelessness, or living on the streets. If you have answered yes to any of these questions, then ARCH may be able to assist you. Please call ARCH at 877.754.VETS (8387) to talk to the SSVF Intake Coordinator between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm. Walkin intakes are between 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm Monday – Friday at our Johnson City office
located at 321 W Walnut St., or between 8:30 am to 11:30 am Monday – Friday at our Bristol office located at 522 Alabama St. Veterans must have a copy of their DD214 before receiving services. If you do not have a copy of your DD214 ARCH can assist you in obtaining a copy. Don’t hesitate to contact ARCH at 877.754.VETS (8387) and talk to the SSVF Intake Coordinator between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm.
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The latest computer-animated 3D film from Hollywood is “Penguins of Madagascar”, and I ventured to the theater to take in the colorful sights and sounds as presented by DreamWorks Animation. The film is a follow-up to “Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted” (oops, I didn’t see that one), and follows the adventures of the beloved penguins Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private. The film begins with a flashback (yes, they happen in animation too) to the time when Skipper, Kowalski and Rico help hatch Private and head out for adventures on an iceberg. The film then flashes forward 10 years later, as the Penguins depart from the circus and head to Fort Knox to celebrate Private’s
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birthday. They break into Fort Knox to get Cheesy Dibbles for Private, which have been discontinued, and are apparently available only in the vending machine at Fort Knox. While at Fort Knox, the penguins are kidnapped by an octopus and taken to a submarine base in Venice. Yes, this film has as much adventure and location changes as a James Bond movie! Back to the story, the penguins discover they are hostages of Dave (John Malkovich), a giant octopus who disguises himself as the human Dr. Octavius Brine. Why has Dave kidnapped our beloved penguins? He was dethroned as a main attraction at the Central Park Zoo, by the penguins and is seeking revenge against our
stars and penguins everywhere. Skipper and his comrades manage to escape, and while being chased by Dave’s henchmen in Venice, are rescued by the “North Wind”, an undercover inter-species task force. Members of the force are a wolf named Classified (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch), a harp seal named Short Fuse, a polar bear named Corporal, and a snowy owl named Eva. The North
Wind flies the penguins to their secret base where they devise a plan to bring down Dave and his octopus army. Eventually the North Wind, along with Skipper and crew take on Dave and his forces in a final showdown. The film has dialogue that can be appreciated by adults, and Dave has several moments where celebrity names are used to hilarious effect. The banter between the
penguins is fast and furious, and not since the Three Stooges have characters been so lovably goofy. This movie can be appreciated by both the young and the young at heart, and don’t be too quick to leave the theater as there is a midcredits scene. Overall, “Penguins of Madagascar” is a fun film for the whole family to enjoy during the holiday season. (Rated PG) B+
Page 22, The Loafer • December 9, 2014
Take Another Little Pizza My Heart Now Baby Niccolo Machiavelli, raised in poverty and war, blossomed in the early 16th century to write one of the most influential and controversial pieces of literature ever written. The Prince influenced leaders such as Henry VII, writers like William Shakespeare, and even appears on television today, nearly 500 years after his death. To say his work impacted the world is a bit understatement. Unfortunately he never lived to see those who would pick up his torch and carry on after him—including local restaurateur Valerie “Val” Jun, co-owner and operator of Machiavelli’s in downtown Bristol. When Val and David Jun landed in Bristol, State Street hadn’t quite reached its full potential. Having only a few bars and barely any restaurants, Val took a job at a bar on 8th Street. Night after night, still longing for quality food and quality fun, Val jumped at the opportunity to bring life back to State Street. “It sort of fell into our laps,” Val explained to me. “It made sense to us; we met and fell in love at my parents’ restaurant in Ohio, so we knew we could make it work.” David explained to me that their original concept was an upscale bar that didn’t really have food as the focus. Luckily for us, they thought about what the community needed as a whole: gourmet pizza. After testing recipes for months on end, David and Val were eager to open Machiavelli’s to the public, offering a new take on pizza and other Italian classics. Before opening its doors, a local priest came by and blessed the restaurant. Not shy in the slightest, he immediately got his hands dirty in the kitchen and made his own pizza—an item you can still find on the restaurant’s menu today—coining it The Prince.
As our waitress escorted us to choose any table we would like, I noticed the music right off hand was playing “Valerie” by Amy Winehouse and as fate would have it, only moments later Val greeted us at our table. As we were introduced it became clear to me that Val was the oxygen to this establishment. Her presence was that of a rock star. Like a Machiavelli of today, someone who didn’t care what others thought and was very certain of herself, and it has paid off for her tremendously. The atmosphere as a whole was romantic and evenly distributed throughout the four different sections of the restaurant. When you first enter your eyes are immediately drawn to the back wall, which happens to be an open window to the kitchen. Booths surround the servers’ station giving you a small town pizzeria experience that you might find on the streets of Italy. Three steps to the right and you are in a completely different setting: a full bar stretches across the room, and candlelit tables draw you around a stage that bares a sign warning bands to play Wagon Wheel at their own risk. You can almost taste the romance in the next room, with lush leather chairs over a fireplace for a private conversation or a table in the far corner for a food critic to scratch down notes whenever she can. Next through glass doors was a room dedicated to parties and special events with just as much character as all the rest. I knew if I didn’t take the time to look around the restaurant I wouldn’t be able to concentrate on the food. The time they have taken to bring a piece of Italy to the TriCities was shown in every detail. Local artists are able to sell their art work right off of the walls, in-
stantly making it a place for locals to feel welcome. Bands load and unload their gear on this stage more than any other establishment in Bristol. Fans of the classic television show The Sopranos wont be disappointed, as pictures baring signatures from the cast greets you on the way to the restrooms. After settling at a table near the fireplace, I threw myself onto the menu. First on the list was Bruschetta, and David’s spin on this traditional Antipasti was refreshing. Plump and juicy cubed tomatoes mixed with red onion and a garlic and herb mix, topped with basil and a slab of melted mozzarella all on a bed of toasted baguettes, prepared with just the right amount of crunch to hold the vast amount of pure marinated bliss. A perfect start to any meal, the flavors were light and vibrant and it immediately exploded on my taste buds. Bruschetta is probably my favorite dish to prepare, anywhere at anytime and Machiavelli’s twist on this classic dish leaves your mouth watering for more. After starting off the night with
a true Italian dish, I opted to stay on that course when I ordered the Mushroom and Olive Oil Vermicelli, a dish so simple but so full of flavor that it would be pleasing to any customer. The thin and translucent vermicelli noodles were perfectly tender and separated easily. Mushrooms sautéed in garlic and olive oil mixed throughout the dish created a mixture of flavors that resonated in each and every bite. Probably one of the tamest and lightest dishes on the menu, yet so authentic to the culture that it stands out on its own. Now I wouldn’t be much of a food critic if I visited a gourmet pizza restaurant and didn’t order one for myself, and their menu offers a variety of different pizzas ranging from family favorites to innovative creations. I wanted to find something somewhere in between so I chose the White Pizza. I’ve eaten New York style pizza off the streets of New York, one deep dish in Chicago and even worked at a few pizza places myself, but never have I tasted a pizza with so much character. The dough was soft on the top
and crisp on the bottom, and its flavor was similar to that of sourdough bread. Served so fresh out of the oven that the cheese still bubbled, and so perfectly crafted that each slice looked identical. Parmesan, mozzarella and ricotta cheese melted on top of their signature white sauce with sliced tomatoes and spinach to add just enough flavor and color to make me feel like it was Christmas. From my first bite I was in love with this dish. I couldn’t wait for the next day so I could have leftovers, that’s how good it tasted. The savory flavors of the cheese takes away from the natural acidic flavors in the tomatoes themselves, allowing a normal household produce items to be elevated into fine dining status. Just when I thought the dining experience was over, lady fingers dusted with sparkling sugar appeared in front of me, on top of a bed of Tiramisu. Served in a chilled short martini glass, this Italian delicacy traces back to the 1960’s and has been a popular dish ever since. The name tiramisu means “pick me up” and as a coffee flavored dessert it usually lives up to its name. In this case it was no exception. Mascarpone cheese, eggs, sugar, coffee, and cocoa layered perfectly for the eye to see in a transparent glass. Their take on this classic desert was refreshing and just the right amount of sweet for a delicious meal. When I take two things like rock and roll and Italy and try to find a place where they fit together, I come up empty handed. But what Val and David have been able to create is nothing short of astounding. Whether you have Italian roots or just wish you did, you will find something to love about Machiavelli’s. Located on 8th Street in Bristol, TN.
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December 9, 2014 • The Loafer, Page 23
Blue Moon Dinner Theatre Opens
Christmas Comedy The Blue Moon Dinner Theatre, Johnson City’s premier dinner theater located at 215 E. Main St., is proud to present their new holiday comedy, “Every Christmas Story Ever Told! (and then some!)” playing Friday andSaturday nights now thru December 27th with a special Matinee performance on December 28th. Santa Claus, Rudolph, the Grinch- and just about every other holiday character- make an appearance in this raucous comedy when three actors decide that rather than perform A Christmas Carol yet again, they’ll retell every Christmas story ever told in only 90 minutes! A madcap romp for the holiday season, this farce also features Christmas traditions from around the world! With Frosty and Charlie Brown and George Bailey, you’ll laugh yourself all the way to the New Year! Featuring the talents of Larry Bunton, Clayton Van Huss, and Edward Breese, this fast paced 3 man comedy is the 7th annual Christmas production for the Blue Moon Dinner Theatre. Holiday costumes for the show created by June Breese with Lights and Sound designed by Anthony Frazier. “We are always on the lookout for a Christmas Comedy that is fast moving but has the heart of the season.” Says Artistic Director Edward Breese “ ...this year we found a show that is perfect for our stage and our audience. We can’t wait to get people in the door and put them in the holiday mood!” Written by John K. Alverez, Michael Carleton, and James FitzGerald this show is a respectful homage and side-splitting parody at the same time. At the Blue Moon, a 3 course dinner is prepared on site and served by our wait staff. Starting with an Cheddar Ale Onion Soup followed by a main course of a roast served with potatoes,vegetables and Yorkshire pudding before the show. At intermission we continue the Dickensian meal with a dessert of figgy pudding with a side of
boiled custard. Doors open at 6 p.m. with food service starting at 6:30pm and the show at 7:30. Dessert and show only tickets are available as well as menu upgrades at an additional price. Special requests require a 24 hour notice. Groups of 10 or more receive a special group discount. For more information or to reserve
your tickets, call 232-1350 or visit bluemoondinnertheatre.com. Follow us on Twitter @BlueMoonJC and “like” us on Facebook for special offers and information about upcoming shows. The Blue Moon Dinner Theatre - Where The Stars Come Out To Shine!
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The Christmas That Almost Wasn’t, But Was, Though Not Quite, But In The End Was It was the perfect winter morning in the perfect town square in the perfect hometown of my youth. I was arriving back to my hometown for Christmas, fresh off a taxi cab ride and full of my harden cynical big city life ways. I was coming home for a few days of home cooking, and homespun wisdom from people who looked vaguely like actors from popular 1980s sitcoms. My heart was despondent as right before I left the cold hard city for the warm bosom of hometown, my beloved AV Receiver in my home theater had died. The home theater doubles as my music room, and I was unable to play records, which was making me go cray cray. After I arrived home and was greeted by the hugs of my loved ones, an act that began to warm the now cold dead rock that is my heart, we all rushed out to the local diner ran by a fellow who looked like Ernest Borgnine. As we sat at the counter and talked to everyone who had ever known me since conception, comments were had of how I was no longer a young scamp, but had grown into “Mr. Fancy Pants Money Maker In Bleak Town Person.” As I stared down at a plate full of fries and grilled onions on top of a burger, my mind was wandering, it was wandering back to the good times I had with my beloved 5.1 Panasonic A/V Receiver. The joy of scaring the neighbors by letting the subwolfer go crazy and rattle the house during a James Bond marathon. At the grocery that night to buy my fancy all natural city foods, I ran into an old flame, Ruby Sue McGuffey McConnell Ann Jenkins. Our eyes caught each other, and we recognized one another immediately. I began to speak. “Ruby, I’ve not seen you since that Christmas dance at school back in 19somethingsomething where you broke my heart and caused me to move to the big city and become angry cynical mad person.” Ruby’s cart was full of cozy canned foods, and she commented that I seemed to be buying nothing but Kale and Evian. A longing look passed between us, and we both went on our separate ways. Walking back home with my kale and french mountain water, I passed by Old Man Jenkins’ electronics store on Main Street. I saw he was still open, so I went inside the shop to say hello. Old Man Jenkins was Ruby’s grandfather, and twas his store where I bought my beloved AV receiver. Old Man Jenkins sounded vaguely like Ed Asner,
“Why Andy! You old so and so, how are things? How is Old Blue doing?” Old Blue was the name I gave my AV receiver. I told Old Man Jenkins that Old Blue had gone to that tech board in the sky. “Gee, I’m sorry to hear that. It’ll be tough to find a replacement for Old Blue” he said, and he was right. I looked forlorn, and I left the shop, promising I would return and look over his new stock of receivers. That night I went home and ate a home-cooked meal, helped wrapped gifts, and then I went to bed in the bedroom that I grew up in. I could begin to feel the black pit that is my hate heart start to warm. The next day we all went to the downtown area to watch the Christmas parade, where I chatted with family, and ran into Ruby yet again. Ruby and I drank hot chocolate by the hot chocolate cart that seemed to be everywhere at the same time. We talked of the past, of that fateful night when she broke my heart, my search for the perfect AV receiver. This is when Ruby began to tell me of her failed marriage and how horrible person now lives far away with their dog and some such. Inexplicably, I asked Ruby out to dinner that night, and we ate and began to feel an old spark rekindle inside each of us. What followed was a montage. A montage filled with romantic Christmas music, skating at the ice rink, pretzels by the pretzel cart, and looking at new AV receivers in her father’s shop. My cold bitter death pit that was my heart began to melt away and once again have that warm fuzzy glow of a normal human earth person. All in all this made for a Christmas that I would not soon forget. Everything culminated on the night before I was due to fly back to the dirty city, I found myself being led to town square, surrounded by the sitcom actors, with Ruby waiting for me by that one old fountain that had been there since forever where love had been born in the long ago. Waiting for me at the center of the square I found Ruby, who was holding a brand new 7.2 surround sound system with bluetooth connectivity and six HDMI ports on the back, with room to connect a turntable. My heart was full, no longer a dead slab, and Christmas was saved to the tune of something that sounded just different enough from “All I Want For Christmas Is You” to avoid a lawsuit. See you next week.
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New Books Under The Christmas Tree I hope you plan to gift-wrap a few books this Christmas, because reading is one of our best gifts, whether in analog (printed) or digital formats. And I can’t think of any year that has equaled this one in terms of the quality and diversity of the books that have been published. You will quickly notice the absence of the “usual suspects” from the following highly-personal list—authors like Maeve Binchy, James Patterson, Stephen King, and Nicholas Sparks. Instead, you will find nothing but nonfiction tomes, with one exception (a very scary horror novel). This has been a banner year for nonfiction, so, without further ado, let’s dive into this sumptuous cornucopia of delights published his year. My award for Book-Of-The-Year (and perhaps Book-Of-The-Decade) goes to Greil Marcus’ thoughtprovoking THE HISTORY OF ROCK ‘N’ ROLL IN TEN SONGS. Although ostensibly a historical review of popular music (including a rather unorthodox choice of ten songs), this is a book about a new way of thinking. I suggest you read this in conjunction with jazz pianist Herbie Hancock’s longoverdue memoir, POSSIBILITIES, a book that is also focused on thinking about music (and life) in new and creative ways. As Herbie tells us, “Improvising is like opening a wonderful box where everything you take out is always new. You’ll never get bored, because what the box contains is different every single time.” For anyone who loves automobiles and what they reveal about the American psyche, look no further than Earl Swift’s fascinating AUTO BIOGRAPHY: A CLASSIC CAR, AN OUTLAW MOTORHEAD, AND 57 YEARS OF THE AMERICAN DREAM, a riveting
and contentious story about one man’s quest to rebuild a 1957 Chevrolet station wagon (and, as the title implies, a larger story about America’s love affair with automobiles) Lost in current (and often misinformed) debates about the merits or pitfalls of the Common Core curriculum is the necessity of fostering curiosity in the classroom. A book that every educator (and legislator) should read is Ian Leslie’s CURIOUS: THE DESIRE TO KNOW AND WHY YOUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON IT. If you’re at all curious about what our schools really need more than standardized testing, you must read this book. And for background on why the teaching profession has become a political football, consult Dana Goldstein’s THE TEACHER WARS: A HISTORY OF AMERICA’S MOST EMBATTLED PROFESSION. The history and theory of innovation is a hot topic this year, and two books capture the innovative spirit in exciting ways: Steven Johnson’s HOW WE GOT TO NOW: SIX INNOVATIONS THAT MADE THE MODERN WORLD (the companion to the PBS video series by the same name) and Walter Isaacson’s THE INNOVATORS: HOW A GROUP OF HACKERS, GENUISES, AND GEEKS CREATED THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION are essential to an understanding of why innovation is so important. Leadership is also a best-selling topic this year, and no book defines this concept better than INVISIBLES: THE POWER OF ANONYMOUS WORK IN AN AGE OF RELENTLESS SELF-PROMOTION, David Zweig’s celebration of those people who work behind the scenes to make our lives better. From captivating stories about unsung people who make their livelihood as skyscraper architects, piano tun-
ers, directional sign designers, and perfumers, we learn who our real leaders are—people who inspire us without grandiose displays of egoism and gratuitous self-promotion. Read this in conjunction with THE POWER OF NOTICING: WHAT THE BEST LEADERS SEE, by Max Bazerman. Books about books and reading occupy a special place on this list, and the cream of the crop is Azar Nafisi’s THE REPUBLIC OF IMAGINATION: AMERICA IN THREE BOOKS, a moving and controversial tribute to the power of the printed word and why books are so essential to maintaining civilization. Closely following Nafisi’s lead are two books that prepare us for the 90th anniversary of the publication of The Great Gatsby next April: Maureen Corrigan’s SO WE READ ON: HOW THE GREAT GATSBY CAME TO BE AND WHY IT ENDURES and Sarah Churchwell’s CARELESS PEOPLE: MURDER, MAYHEM, AND THE INVENTION OF THE GREAT GATSBY. And, a book that defies description but is essential reading for any book lover is Peter Mendelsund’s mindbending WHAT WE SEE WHEN WE READ, a meditation about what goes on in our heads while we read. Books about technology and the implications of living in a mobile and connected world are plentiful, so don’t overlook ENCHANTED OBJECTS: DESIGN, HUMAN DESIRE, AND THE INTERNET OF THINGS, by David Rose, THE END OF ABSENCE: RECLAIMING WHAT WE’VE LOST IN A WORLD OF CONSTANT CONNECTION, by Michael Harris, and VIRTUAL UNREALITY: JUST BECAUSE THE
INTERNET TOLD YOU, HOW DO YOU KNOW ITS TRUE? By Charles Seife. Far too many people consider American history a dull and unpleasant affair, so we should not lose sight of the role played by fun and pranksterism in our complex history. To add a necessary balance to our understanding (and perhaps misunderstanding) of our history, please read and enjoy John Beckman’s AMERICAN FUN: FOUR CENTURES OF JOYOUS REVOLT and PRANKSTERS: MAKING MISCHIEF IN THE MODERN WORLD, by Kembrew McLeod. While we continue to commemorate the centenary year of the First World War’s outbreak, I hope you will pause to consider the lasting effects the so-called Great War has had on shaping the world we live in today. Two essential reflections on that topic are THE LONG SHADOW: THE LEGACIES OF THE GREAT WAR IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY, by David Reynolds, and THE FIRST WORLD WAR IN 100 OBJECTS, by John HughesWilson. Modern politics is a battlefield of contending ideologies and misguided theories about how we got into the mess we are in, so it is very comforting to find sensible guides to lead us through the twisted hallways of recent American history. Rick Perlstein’s magisterial THE INVISIBLE BRIDGE: THE FALL OF NIXON AND THE RISE OF REAGAN (the third volume in his study of American politics from 1964 to the present) is thought-provoking and controversial storytelling at its finest and does much to dispel lots of recent nonsense about how our recent history has been misrepre-
sented and distorted. As we continue to unlock the mysteries of DNA, Christine Kenneally’s THE INVISIBLE HISTORY OF THE HUMAN RACE: HOW DNA AND HISTORY SHAPE OUR IDENTITIES AND OUR FUTURES is a very accessible and absorbing reflection on what all this research means to our understanding of where we’ve come from and where we might be going. Those with culinary and libational interests will welcome these two volumes as stocking stuffers: THE AMERICAN PLATE: A CULINARY HISTORY IN 100 BITES, by Libby O’Connell, and BOURBON: A HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN SPRIT, by Dane Huckelbridge. Although this year’s list can go on and on, here are four last gift ideas I would be remiss for not suggesting: Tom Zoelner’s TRAIN: RIDING THE RAILS THAT CREATED THE MODERN WORLD, is a train-lover’s delight; MICHELANGELO: A LIFE IN SIX MASTERPIECES, by Miles J. Unger belongs on every art lover’s nightstand; FIVE CAME BACK: A STORY OF HOLLYWOOD AND THE SECOND WORLD WAR, by Mark Harris, is an important addition to our understanding of American film history; and the only book of fiction on this list, BROKEN MONSTERS, by Lauren Beukes (strongly recommended by Stephen King), is a terrifying horror tale that provides a haunting metaphor for life in the twenty-first century. I hope you will find something of interest in my much-too-long list (which I had to considerably pare down). Happy reading! See you next week with more Christmas cheer.
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