Planet Weekly 478

FEBRUARY 12 + FEBRUARY 262 >>> PLANETWEEKLY • tuscaloosa's souRcE foR EntERtainmEnt, music, spoRts & tHE aRts

Grand Opening at Ryan Powell Allstate Agency

A ribbon cutting and open house was held at Ryan Powell Allstate Agency on Jan. 27. Ryan helps families like yours to protect homes, cars, boats and more. His office is located at 2415 12th St. in Tuscaloosa. Give him a call at 205-530-1981.

MBUSI Visitor Center Reopens

The Mercedes Benz USI Visitor Center/Gift Shop re-opened on Feb. 4 after

being closed for renovations. Hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30a.m. to 4p.m. (Closed

>>> N E W S | t H E c H a m B E R o f c o m m E R c E

NEWSRIBBON CUTTINGS DOMINATE T-TOWN

Saturday, Sunday and major holidays.) Admission for the self-guided tour is free. The address is 6 Mercedes Dr. in Vance. Call 205-507-2252 or visit www.mbusi.com/visitor-center for more info.

Ribbon Cutting at New Orleans

Steak & Seafood HouseNew Orleans Steak and Seafood

House offers a wide se-lection of hand-cut and aged steak and seafood dishes made with fresh, high quality ingre-dients. It is located at 824 McFarland Blvd. in Northport. Call 205-248-7666 for more info. See PW Review on page 12.

Tuscaloosa Teachers Credit Union

Rebrands as RiverFall Ribbon cuttings were held on Feb. 9 to commemorate the renovation of River-Fall Credit Union (formerly Tuscaloosa

Teachers Credit Union) in North-port (1615 Mc-Farland Blvd.)as well as a newly- constructed RiverFall Credit Union on High-way 69 South (5461 Kauloosa Ave.). The credit union has been working for quite some time to develop a new name and brand which has now been unveiled to the public. Tuscaloosa Teachers Credit Union began in 1953 serving the city's educators and, for some time now, ser-vices have been open to all members of the community and surrounding counties. The credit union has positioned itself for growth by removing the intrinsic barriers of its previous name and by embracing the vibrancy of a new brand, RiverFall. The name is in reference to the Black Warrior River, which has been a constant strength in our community that is forever connected to Tuscaloosa on a fall line.

Glow Run is Feb. 21The Glow Run 5k is coming back to Tuscaloosa on Feb. 21. It will start and finish at the old Farmer's Market parking lot by the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater. The 3.1 mile course will include black light zones, a course DJ and a glowing finish line chute. After the race, participants gain entry into the Glow Run After Party where there will be local DJ's and giveaways to keep the night fun. This run is less about how fast you can complete the 3.1mi and more about having fun glowing with your community. Discounted rates are available for groups of 25 or more. This is a great opportunity for company health initiatives. Register online for this awesome event before it's too late! http://www.glowrun5k.com/tuscaloosa.html.

2015 Great Tuscaloosa Chili Cookoff SetThe Exchange Club of Tuscaloosa's annu-al Chili Cookoff will be held at the Bryant Conference Center Saturday on Feb 14 from 11a.m.-1:p.m. Tickets will be sold at the door for $10 each. Please visit www.tuscaloosaexchangeclub.org for details.

3>>> Visit us on tHE WEB @ THEPLANETWEEKLY.COM FEBRUARY 12 + FEBRUARY 26

STORIES4 AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT // WILLIAM BARSHOPJoe DeVita is living his dreams

5 COVER STORY // WILLIAM BARSHOPBackstage during rehearsals for a classic performance

6 JOHN DAVIS PLAYS BLIND TOM // KEVIN LEDGEWOODYou won't want to miss this performance

7 A BIZARRE MEANDER // JORDAN CISSELLA review of Jeff Bridges' "Sleeping Tapes"

8 PULITZER PLAYWRIGHT COMING // KIERA GILLOCKMargaret Edson to attend "W;T" February 21

13 BLACK WARRIOR FILM FESTIVAL Noted filmmakers to be present

22 THE BABYLONIAN BRIDES // JIM REEDFrom his Red Clay Diary

ENTERTAINMENT10-12 RESTAURANT GUIDE / WINE & BEER

14 THE FLAT SCREEN

15 MOVIE REVIEW

16-17 LOCAL EVENTS CALENDAR

18 ROAD TRIP

19 LOCAL MUSIC

20 PUZZLEMANIA

21 HOROSCOPE

HIGH TIDE SPORTS23 ALABAMA LOOKS AT 2016 // GARY DAVIS

PUBLISHERlinDa W. JoHnson

MANAGING EDITORBER t paulsEn

ASSOCIATE EDITORWilliam BaRsHop

COVER DESIGNl au R a l i n E B E R R Y

EVENTSW i l l i a m B a R s H o p

ROAD TRIPtREY BRooKs

RESTAURANT GUIDEDoc fRanKEnstEin

PRODUCTIONH E R B n E u

IMAGESimages: creative common

license unless otherwise credited.

p l a n e t W e e k l yp. o . B o x 2 3 1 5t u s c a l o o s a , a l 3 5 4 0 3p h o n e : 2 0 5 . 7 9 2 . 7 2 3 9 | 2 0 5 . 7 6 5 . 8 0 0 7

E m a i l : p u b l i s h e r @ t h e p l a n e t w e e k l y . c o mplease direct correspondence to: [email protected] planet Weekly is a proud member of the West alabama chamber of commerce.

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planet Weekly is published every other thursday. no part of this publication including editorials may be reproduced, in whole or part, by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without the publisher’s prior expressed written consent. one copy of each issue of tHE planEt WEEKlY is free to each of our readers. any reader who takes more than four copies without expressed permission of the publisher shall be deemed to have committed theft. the views and opinions of the authors of articles appearing in this publication may not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the publisher.

>>> www.theplanetweekly.com >>> planetweeklyissue478

4 inside 17

under the cover

ADVERTISINGmaR t Y RoBERson205.523.4668tRE VoR pRuit t205.765.7329

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSW i l l i a m B a R s H o pc a R a B R a K Et R E Y B R o o K sJ o R Da n c i s s E l lKiERa GillocKs H E E n a G R E G GG a R Y H a R R i sK E V i n l E D G E W o o DJ i m R E E DBREtt REiDJ o n R o G E R sVa n R o B E R t sR ac H E l s t E i n E R

7

FEATURE6 DAVE MATTHEWS BAND COMING TO T-TOWNBY TREY BROOKS

BE SURE TO VISIT OUR NEW DYNAMIC WEBSITE

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>>> M U S I C | W I L L I A M B A R S H O P

Painting: Kathy Hiers

JOE DEVITA IS LIVING HIS DREAMS // AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT

Joe DeVita was 1,800 miles from home when a five-car collision almost left him

paralyzed in Durango, Col. In hindsight, he called it “one of the best things that ever happened to [him].”

DeVita, now a 36-year-old musician and guitar teacher in Birmingham, Ala., had been hitchhiking westward from New York, performing solo at venues all over the country. Moving from place to place, not every show was planned too far in advance.

“One time I was in a Wendy’s some-where in Ohio, and a bunch of seniors were having their weekly meeting there,” DeVita said. “They asked me to play, so I did a weird half-hour gig in the middle of a Wendy’s. It was pretty hilarious.”

The accident stopped him in his tracks, and DeVita had two months in a Durango hospital to think about what had brought him there. Now he’s ready to add another album to his body of work, "Liquid Slum-

ber", including some of his most acces-sible and carefully-crafted music to date.

“The first couple of days I was laying in the hospital bed, they had these weird heated socks on my legs,” DeVita said. “They were constantly checking my circu-lation to see if I would walk again. . . Once you realize it could’ve been that much worse, it’s kind of a good kick in the butt.”

Recovering in the confines of a brace, he spent three or four hours a day prac-ticing guitar in a park along Colorado’s Animas River. For the first time in a while, he let life come to him, and some of the people he met were just as exciting as life on the road.

“I ran into one of Steve Miller’s song-writing partners [Steve McCarty] there, who was walking his dog,” DeVita said. “He said ‘hey man are you a songwriter! Let me play you a song!’ And he sat down and played ‘Wild Mountain Honey,’ which he had written. His wife showed up and

they started harmonizing.”Before leaving New York to travel with

his music, DeVita had felt he was in a rut. He was looking for something to reignite the love for music he had as a teenager.

“I had set up a groove with the local music scene and I was kind of getting burnt out,” DeVita said. “I had gotten to a point where music was paying the rent and putting food on the table, and it had started to feel more like a job. Which there’s nothing wrong with, but that youth-ful energy and enthusiasm wasn’t there as much. The whole hitchhiking thing, playing more or less anonymously . . . just got me back to what I love doing.”

DeVita said he realized the value of living out his dreams. It slowly became clear that his heart was in adventures, not repeating the same thing every Saturday night. When his legs were back in working order, he biked to Wyoming. From there, he hitchhiked to California where he took on music students and kept performing around the state.

“It made me realize humanity isn’t such a bad place,” DeVita said. “You meet wonderful people on the road.”

His love for teaching arose barely a year after he picked up the guitar at age 16, helping other beginners around his high school cafeteria table.

“Once I started, I would take my guitar with me to high school and I was always practicing on my lunch break,” DeVita said. “Over time people started coming over to me and asking me to show them things on the guitar.”

The music scene on Long Island was not particularly dynamic, especially for a teenager, but he latched on to whatever he could in terms of like-minded perform-ers. Coffeehouse singers in the neigh-borhood were usually “very vanilla,” and DeVita couldn’t get into age-restricted venues that better suited his taste.

“At that time, as far as teenagers were concerned, there was only one club that catered to a teenage audience,” DeVita said. “That got shut down pretty quickly. People started to get scared with all those kids congregating.”

He was craving the feeling of perform-ing, not for attention but for the satisfac-tion of sharing his music. He had seen his uncle perform when he was younger, and was awestruck by the connection he made with the audience.

“The way he delivered things really amazed me, and I felt a genuine emotion in the song,” DeVita said. “He brings out these feelings that you’re not quite able to articulate.”

After almost ten years of perform-ing, he made his first album using only a Casio keyboard. His roommate had left the instrument in his apartment, and it was easier to record than his guitar.

“I found out that I could arrange all the parts, the strings were halfway decent, I could play the drum set on the actual key-

board,” DeVita. “It was the first opportunity I had to build all the parts from the ground out.”

Since then he’s incorporated every-thing from jazz to the avant garde into this music, always keeping the seed of his rock upbringing. On The Antihero, he dabbles in humor and comic book drama.

“I’m always curious about something,” DeVita said. “I’m always finding myself interested in things. I guess when you’ve been playing music for 20 years, you want to keep it fresh and challenge yourself as well. It’s really a goal to keep myself out of my comfort zone and see what I do.”

Now on "Liquid Slumber", he incor-porates an instrument that he’s used for years without mastering: his voice. He says it’s an equalizing tool, a sound that anyone can identify with, and he’s put a lot of effort into hitting the right pitches on the new songs.

“For a while there I could have called myself completely tone-deaf,” DeVita said. “I really had to work my butt off to get to this point, and I have to work even harder to get where I want to be.”

DeVita flexes his 2-3 hour daily vo-cal practice on the promo track “Ocean Song,” an arena rocker compressed into something intimate and inviting. “Alex McKinley” is a Beatles-style ballad, weav-ing a tale of a mysterious disappearance in a mournful, eulogizing melody.

“I try to make it so anyone can listen and pick something out that they like,” DeVita said. “I try to put a lot of ear candy on there.”

A self-labeled perfectionist, DeVita cut himself off from tweaking and editing and called it finished, knowing he would polish it forever if he could. He’s anxiously waiting to hear what other people think of it.

“I haven’t listened to it at all,” DeVita said. “I left the room when I played it for my fiancée. I trust her to tell me if I need to throw it out and start over.”

In the meantime, DeVita still finds joy in teaching, with pupils from five years old to their fifties, and with origins from Pakistan and Brazil to native Alabamians. Whatever direction his music goes next, he knows the factors that will be constant.

“Life is going to happen to you regard-less,” DeVita said. “It really depends how you react to it.”

"Liquid Slumber" is available March 15, and song previews and pre-orders are up now at joedevita.com

“I found out that I could arrange all the parts, the strings were halfway decent, I could play the drum set on the actual keyboard. “It was the first opportu-nity I had to build all the parts from the ground out.”

“I haven’t listened to it at all. I left the room when I played it for my fiancée. I trust her to tell me if I need to throw it out and start over.”

5>>> PLANETWEEKLY • tuscaloosa's souRcE foR EntERtainmEnt, music, spoRts & tHE aRts FEBRUARY 12 + FEBRUARY 26

>>> COVER STORY | W I L L I A M B A R S H O P

Braving the underworld to save a lost damsel may be the stuff of myths,

but did you ever wonder what the damsel was doing that whole time? In Sarah Ruhl’s play, Eurydice, we see the story from beyond the grave, and the Univer-sity of Alabama theatre department is bringing it to the stage starting Feb. 16.

Matt Davis directs the play as the last step in his Master of Fine Arts degree in directing at UA, and he promises that the show will be “all about the otherworldly.”

Naomi Prentice, a junior at UA, and David Nicholson, a freshman, star as Orpheus and Eurydice, the main charac-ters in the ancient tale. As the story goes, Orpheus is a world-renowned musician

EURYDICE // UA THEATRE BRINGS THE UNDERWORLD TO LIFE // REHEARSALS

who ventures into Hades to save his wife, but he can only save her if he leads her out without turning to look back.

Alas, Eurydice’s beauty is too over-powering. Orpheus cannot resist one glance, and Eurydice vanishes to die a second death.

“There are some changes in this ver-sion, especially the end,” Prentice said. Nicholson said the twist gives Eurydice more action in the final scene, and that she isn’t just a prize for Oprheus to win with his divine talents.

“It’s a feminist appropriation,” Nichol-son said. “It shows Orpheus’s flaws a lot more. In the myth he’s more of a god and everyone wants to hear his music.”

Ruhl’s version also adds a character that complicates things for Eurydice: her father. Played by UA senior Anthony Haselbauer, we see him write letters to his daughter and pretend to dance with her on her wedding day, all alone in the land of the dead. When Eurydice reunites with him, she isn’t so sure about choos-ing her husband’s love over the love of a family.

There are more striking changes in the stage version as well. The lord of the underworld rides around on a red tricycle. An impish chorus of stones creeps around the stage. A raining eleva-tor wipes away memories when new residents arrive.

What will really throw people off, the actors agreed, is the dialogue.

“Some parts make it very abstract, and some of the dialogue will sound like almost nonsense,” Nicholson said. “Kids

who need credit for their class are going to come and go ‘what did I just watch.”

“But years later they might have an a-ha moment and realize what it all means,” Prentice said. “Like, ‘Oh that reminds me of this weird show I saw in college for my fine arts class.’”

Parts of the show are so open to inter-pretation, that even the two stars aren’t on the same page as to what it all means. Nicholson said he thinks some lines aren’t supposed to mean anything at all, and that it’s more like “watching pieces come together.”

“I think every line is there for a reason,” Prentice said, disagreeing with Nicholson. “We’re not here to entertain, exactly. We’re here to make you think.”

Despite the sometimes-difficult nature of the script, Davis aims for the show to

CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

Photo: S. Alek Pike

Photo: S. Alek Pike

Caroline Ficken

Ross Birdsong


>>> P E R F O R M A N C E | K E V I N L E D G E W O O D

MUSIC AS STORYTELLING // JOHN DAVIS PLAYS BLIND TOM FEB. 25In his latest record, "The Diving

Board," Elton John sings "The Ballad of Blind Tom" with lyrics by Bernie Tau-pin that recall Tom's concert trips "down to Tuscaloo."

John Davis plays Blind Tom in the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center as part of a career that includes performances and features on NPR's "All Things Consid-ered," NBC's The Today Show, and Good Morning America on ABC. Davis has been profiled by The New York Times, The New Yorker, and The Oxford American.

Thomas Wiggins known as "Blind Tom"During one of his Southern tours, Thomas Wiggins was forced to listen to the musical efforts of an Alabama lady at the piano. When she finished, "Blind Tom" commented, "I will play the number

>>> M U S I C | T R E Y B R O O K S

DAVE MATTHEWS BAND COMES TO TUSCALOOSA

I f the college music scene of the 1990’s and 2000’s had a mascot,

it would probably be the Dave Mat-thews Band. The reasons for this are varied. Part has to do with the con-stant touring of the band, and part also has to do with their tailgate-par-ty atmosphere they carry with them. Whatever the reason, the Dave Mat-thews Band has found a niche among those involve in higher education, especially in the Greek and party scenes. It ’s a niche that has served the band well, as they consistently have some of the best attended con-certs every year. And this year, they will be bringing the party to the col-lege town of Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

On June 3rd, the Dave Matthews Band will per form at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheatre. It is sure to be one of the most highly anticipated shows at the Amp this year.

The origins of the Dave Matthews Band can be traced back to Charlot-tesville, Virginia in 1990, when South African-born musician Dave Mat-thews began recording demos with local jazz saxophonist LeRoi Moore. The band formed with members of the local jazz scene and began per-forming around the state of Virginia in 1991. Unlike many bands that feature the name of one member, the lineup of DMB has remained remark-ably stable. The only longtime mem-ber no longer with the band is Moore, who died in 2008 after an ATV crash.

The band’s major success be-gan in 1994 with the release of their second album Under the Table Dreaming. They won a Grammy and had hits with songs like “Crash Into Me”, “Too Much” and “What Would You Say”. Their 1998 release Be-fore These Crowded Streets began a streak of six straight albums to open at number 1 on the charts. By the year 2000, they were one of the best-selling ar tists in the United States.

Labeling the band has been dif-f icult in some terms. In many ways they exhibit the traits of a jam band. They have long, improvisational piec-es in their live sets, set lists change from show-to-show, there is a premi-um put on musicianship over song-writing, and ar tist collaboration is encouraged. Matthews has regularly contributed to albums by jam artists like Tim Reynolds and Trey Anasta-sio. DMB were also key f igures in the early success of music festivals such as Bonnaroo and Rothbury. However, their acceptance from more hardcore jamband fans is tentative at best. Part of this may be the band’s increasing commercial success. Part may also be the fanbase they attract is not a typical jam crowd.

One thing they definitely have in common with other jam artists is their policies towards taping. Feeling their early success was due to tape shar-ing, DMB used to allow taping at al-most all their shows. However, in the late 1990’s they soured on this policy as bootleg tapes began to be sold illegally. To fur ther combat bootleg-gers, the band regularly releases live recordings of their shows.

As the Dave Matthews Band comes to Tuscaloosa, one must feel that this show was exactly what city of f icials had in mind when they de-cided to build the Amphitheatre. This is an ar tist that appeals distinctly to the large college crowd that inhabits Tuscaloosa. However, DMB have also been around long enough that they have a much older fanbase than just those in college. The band has sold out Oak Mountain Amphitheatre in Pelham many times before, and of-f icials are banking that they can bring that crowd down to T-Town. One thing is for sure: the Dave Matthews Band will put on a great show like they always do.

as the lady should have played it." When the audience at the Dinah Washington Center hears John Davis play Blind Tom, they will be listening to a contemporary master whose previous recital venues have included Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall and Wigmore Hall in London. Davis earned a Master's Degree in Piano at Jul-liard after achieving his B.A. in history and Russian language and literature at Brown University.

The per-formance takes place on Wednesday, Feb. 25, at the Dinah Washington Cul-tural Arts Center.


>>>A L B U M R E V I E W | J O R D A N C I S S E L L

As it turns out, The Dude also reclines.Jeff Bridges’ new album, "Sleep-

ing Tapes", was designed with the sole intention of soothing you to sleep. Also, to raise money and awareness for No Kid Hungry. The album is available as a pay-what-you-want download at dreamingwith-jeff.com, and all of the proceeds go to the organization.

You could call this an “album,” though, in only the loosest sense of the word. What we have here is a bizarre, humor-ous, meandering ramble through the far-out mind of the Academy Award-winning actor and life-long musical dabbler.

Bridges has released records before – a handful of country-folk collections with his band the Abiders, as well as all of the singing for his role as washed-up country has-been Otis “Bad” Blake in the 2009 movie True Grit – but never anything like this. Sleeping Tapes is a stretched-out aural collage, led by Bridges’ gravelly grumble of a voice and an array of synthe-sizer pulses and whooshes.

Some tracks are under a minute long,

while other portions stretch up to 11 minutes, but the segmentation is mostly artificial. Listening straight through, there’s really no way to distinguish any moment from another.

A warm, glowing tone, resonating like a Himalayan singing bowl, opens “Intro-duction (Good Evening),” lazily followed several seconds later by the sound of Bridges sliding out from under the covers and padding his feet down onto the floor. “These are the sleeping tapes. I hope they inspire you to do some cool sleeping,” he half-mumbles towards the end of a mono-logue punctuated by thoughtful pauses and comfortable chuckles.

Bridges’ speech is meandering and familiar, giving the entire album a genuine immediacy. Such a bizarre project runs the risk of becoming a self-indulgent ego trip for a big-time actor who is in love with the sound of his own voice, but Bridges’ amiable tone, mellowed-out tangents ensure that the whole thing reads like the explorations of an enthused tinkerer.

On “Sleep. Dream. Wakeup,” he

repeats the titular triad until it becomes mantra, his multi-tracked intonation split-ting and layering into a sort of blissed-out Gregorian chant as dulcet chime glissan-dos ebb and flow underneath.

“Hummmmmm” is exactly as ad-vertised: Bridges introduces you to his method for calming down in between film-ing scenes. “My makeup man … gets a kick out of this,” he says before launching into two minutes of murmured arpeggios. The very next segment, “Goodmorning, Sweetheart,” documents Bridges’ at-tempts to convince his wife Susan to hum for the tape as the two make breakfast together. You can hear forks clink and the coffee maker burble, while gentle, airy synthesizer whooshes pour into the spaces in between.

In a later track, Bridges offers you a glass of water, then shares the following: “I don’t know, if you’re like me, you drink a glass of water before you got to bed, you’re getting up a couple times during the night. But that’s okay.” Then he waxes poetic about looking out the window at the full moon during one of the night-time bathroom visits. On “Feeling Good,” Bridges offers a string of pre-bedtime compliments, including, “You are very good at guessing when a traffic light will turn green,” his euphonious near-whisper offered in a steady, unhurried cadence.

A lot of the focus so far has been on Bridges’ mellifluous voice, but the produc-ers’ contributions deserve a share of the spotlight, too. Bridges recruited the talents of composer Keefus Ciancia (who’s worked on projects as varied as “The Hunger Games” soundtrack and Elton John and Leon Russell’s “The Union”) and mastering engineer Doug Sax (Pink Floyd’s “The Wall,” the Rolling Stones’ “Sticky Fingers,” among many others), and the two have created a beautiful, eerie soundscape replete with subtle textures and exotic ephemera.

Thunderclaps and gentle rain at the end of “The Raven” give way to a bumble-bee saxophone at the outset of “The Hen.” As Bridges’ relates his plans to have his remains installed in an Earth-orbiting sat-

ellite following his death, the actor’s voice splits ever-so-slightly into Human Jeff and Cyborg Jeff. The tension is reminiscent of the microscopically delayed echoing and splitting David Bowie employed to make the chorus of 1980’s “Ashes to Ashes” so subtly disconcerting.

Perhaps the most successful and intriguing synthesis of Ciancia and Sax’s artistry and Bridges’ meandering genius is the 11-minute “Temescal Canyon,” in which you and Bridges take a Bridges-narrated trek through the titular California valley. You stumble upon some Spanish doubloons in a stream, grass crunches beneath your feet, the creek burbles hap-pily and a train bellows in the distance. The trip culminates in a return journey via hang glider, with Bridges waving to friends on the way down.

What’s it all about? Who knows? But even if you reach for meaning and come back empty-handed, it’s refreshing to see someone try purely for the sake of trying something new.

A BIZARRE MEANDER THROUGH DREAMLAND // JEFF BRIDGES' "SLEEPING TAPES"


>>> T H E A T R E | K I E R A G I L L O C K

PLAYWRIGHT TO ATTEND UPCOMING PRODUCTION // "W;T"

Theatre Tuscaloosa will present W;t, a Pulitzer

Prize-winning play by Marga-ret Edson, in the Bean-Brown Theatre on Shelton State’s Martin Campus, February 20-March 1. On Saturday, February 21, playwright Margaret Edson will speak at 6:15 p.m. in the Alabama Power Recital Hall; she will also attend the 7:30 p.m. performance of "W;t".

Edson makes very few public appearances. As an elementary school teacher, she devotes most of her time to her young students. Thanks to a personal con-nection with one of Theatre Tuscaloosa’s board mem-bers, Edson has agreed to give a rare pre-show lecture and discussion in the Ala-bama Power Recital Hall (off the lobby of the theatre). The pre-show event is free, but seating is limited.

"W;t" is the story of Vivian Bearing, Ph.D., a renowned professor of English who has spent years studying and

teaching the brilliant and difficult meta-physical sonnets of John Donne. Bearing has been diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer. Her approach to the study of Don-ne is aggressively probing and intensely rational, but during the course of her ill-ness and her stint as a prize patient in an experimental chemotherapy program at a major teaching hospital, Bearing comes to reassess her life and her work with a

profundity and humor transformative both for herself and the audience.

“I really believe this play is going to touch a lot of people’s lives in a way that is profound,” says executive producer Tina Turley. “We’re really excited to have Jeff Wilson directing with us again, too. He has a passion for research and authentic-ity that will make this show feel real and extremely personal.”

Drew Baker as Dr. Vivian Bearing in Theatre Tuscaloosa’s “W;t,” running Feb. 20-Mar. 1 in the Bean-Brown Theatre. Photo by Porfirio Solorzano. Gary Wise, and Jeff Wilson. Photo by Porfirio Solorzano.


Continued from previous page

Wilson, a veteran Theatre Tuscaloosa performer and director, leads a tight-knit cast. “This piece has been one I’ve been particularly keen on bringing to the Tuscaloosa stage because it offers this look at life that I just don’t think you get to see very often,” he says.

In its Off-Broadway debut in 1998, "W;t" was greeted with rave reviews. "W;t" won the 1999 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Lucille Lortel Award for Best Play. The New York Times called "W;t", "[A] brutally human and beautifully layered new play…you feel both enlight-ened and, in a strange way, enormously comforted." New York Magazine said, "["W;t" is] a dazzling and humane new play that you will remember till your dying day."

“Being chosen for the role of Vivian Bearing and to portray her story of revela-tion and introspection is such an honor,” said actor Drew Baker. “It’s even more rewarding being surrounded on stage by longtime friends and co-performers to help tell this story.” Baker is accompanied by a supporting cast including Gary Wise, Richard Wallace, Kathy Wilson, Carol DeVelice, Brandie Bowden, Bucky Cle-ments, Aubrey Dean, Porsche Kemp, and Laura White.

As part of Theatre Tuscaloosa’s com-mitment to raising awareness about ovar-ian cancer, two special events have been planned in cooperation with the Norma Livingston Ovarian Cancer Foundation. On Sunday, February 22, there will be a post-show talk-back with actors, cancer survivors, and medical professionals. On Thursday, February 26, there will be a physician-led pre-show lecture and discussion titled “Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment of Ovarian Cancer.” More infor-mation about these free special events is available at www.theatretusc.com.

Theatre Tuscaloosa’s 2014-15 Season, To Life!, is presented in coop-eration with Shelton State Community College and is sponsored by Jamison-MoneyFarmer PC. "W;t" is sponsored by Renfroe Outdoor Advertising and Southland Benefit Solutions. Additional sponsors include Alabama One Credit Union; Warrior Roofing; TotalCom Mar-keting; TownSquare Media Group; Afflink; Buffalo Rock; Left Hand Soap Company; Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc.; Ameriprise Financial; Campbell Guin; and Bank of Tuscaloosa. "W;t" is made pos-sible by grants from the Alabama State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts and the City of Tuscaloosa.

"W;t" runs February 20-March 1, 2015, in the Bean-Brown Theatre on Shelton State Community College’s Martin Campus (9500 Old Greensboro Road). Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Sundays, and Saturday, February 28. A Pay-What-You-Can dress rehearsal will be presented on Thursday, February 19, at 7:30 p.m., and proceeds benefit the Charlie Dennis Memorial Scholarship Fund.

For more information and tick-ets, visit www.theatretusc.com or call 205.391.2277.

The Shelton State Community College Department of Fine Arts has announced the schedule of performances slated for the spring 2015 Terrific Tuesday Con-certs as well as several special concerts and events.

In addition to a variety of recitals to be performed by Shelton State music students, Terrific Tuesday Concerts will include performances by various profes-sional artists from around the state.

All performances are free and open to the public and take place in the Alabama Power Foundation Recital Hall (unless otherwise noted) of the Sandra Hall Ray Fine Arts Center on the Martin Campus of Shelton State Community College.

For additional information on the Terrific Tuesday Concerts, contact Lillian Roberts at 205.391.2399 or [email protected].

FEBRUARY 17 – SHELTON STATE JAZZ ENSEMBLE Dr. Daniel Western, director Martin Atrium, 1:15 p.m.

20-Mar. 1 – W;T*A Pulitzer Prize-Winning Play by Marga-ret Edson, who will attend on Feb. 21.Bean-Brown Theatre (various times) Tickets: 205.391.2277 or theatretusc.com 24 – PIANO RECITAL Dr. Kevin Chance, pianoUniversity of Alabama Faculty Alabama Power Recital Hall, 1:15 p.m.

MARCH3 – VIOLIN RECITALHaeun Kim, violin, and Dr. Hyesook Jung, pianoAlabama Power Recital Hall, 1:15 p.m.

8 – MOZART’S CORONATION MASSFeaturing Shelton Singers and Chamber Orchestra; directed by Dr. Mark BrownCovenant Presbyterian Church, 3:00 p.m.

10 – STUDENT MUSICALEFeaturing SSCC students in voice, per-cussion, piano, and saxophone Alabama Power Recital Hall, 1:15 p.m.

23- Apr. 10 – DARKNESS INTO LIFE: ALABAMA HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHY AND ART Cadence Bank Art GalleryOpening Reception: March 24 at 4 p.m.

24 – OBOE RECITALDr. Erik Larson, oboeUniversity of West Alabama FacultyAlabama Power Recital Hall, 1:15 p.m.

27 – FINE ARTS SCHOLARSHIP AUDITIONS

31 – FACULTY RECITALFeaturing SSCC music faculty members: Dr. Mark Brown, Mrs. Glinda Blackshear, Ms. Lillian Roberts, and Dr. Daniel Western Alabama Power Recital Hall, 1:15 p.m.

Feb 13 - SpaceFace with Young Bufflo

Feb 14 - Strangled Darlings with the cold cold sweats

Feb 19 - The Primitive Talk

Feb 20 - CBDB with the Little Raine Band

Feb 26 - Baak Gwai

Spring and summer events scheduled for Shelton State Community College will be continued in the next edition of Planet Weekly.

SSCC's Terrific Tuesday Schedule


>>> RESTAURANTS | W H E R E T O E A T I N T U S C A L O O S A

BREAKFAST / LUNCHBrown Bag9425 Jones Road | northport // 333.0970its speciality, fried green tomatoes, joins barbecue plates and fish filets on an extended list of meats and vegetables.tues 10:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Wed-sat 10:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.

City Cafe408 main ave | Downtown northport // 758.9171Established in 1936. Big on food, low on price. open for breakfast and lunch. Historic downtown northport. closed weekends.

CountryPride Restaurant3501 Buttermilk Rd // 554.0215www.ta.travelcenters.comBreakfast 24 hours. lunch and Dinner buffet.

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store4800 Doris pate Dr | Exit 76 // 562.8282www.crackerbarrel.com

International House of Pancakes724 skyland Blvd // 366.1130

Jack's1200 Hackberry lane | tuscaloosa // 345.1199

Maggie's Diner1307 ty Rogers Jr. ave | tuscaloosa // 366.0302

Mr. Bill's Family Restaurant2715 mcfarland Blvd | tuscaloosa // 333.9312

Panera Bread1800 mcfarland Blvd *402 | tuscaloosa // 366.8780

Quick Grill1208 university Blvd | the strip | tuscaloosa // 342.0022

Rama Jama’s1000 Bryant Dr // 750.0901closest restaurant to Bryant-Denny stadium.

Sweet Home Food Bar2218 University Blvd. | Tuscaloosa // 764-9346 Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m. – 4 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

The Waysider1512 Greensboro ave // 345.8239open for breakfast and lunch. smoke free.

MEXICANChipotle Mexican Grill1800 mcfarland Blvd E | midtown Village // 391.0140www.chipotle.com

Don Rafa's2313 4th street | temerson square // 345.9191

El Mariachi3520 mcfarland Blvd E |tuscaloosa // 409-8585

El Rincon (2 locations)1225 university Blvd | tuscaloosa // 366.08551726 mcfarland Blvd | northport // 330.1274

Fernando's Mexican Grill824 mcfarland Blvd E | northport // 205.331.4587

Iguana Grill1800 mcfarland Blvd E | midtown Village // 752.5895

Jalapeno’s Mexican Grill2001 new Watermelon Rd | northport // 342.3378

LaGran Fiesta9770 Hwy 69 s // 345.8871

Los Calientes Mexican Grill3429 mcfarland Blvd E // 553.1558

Los Tarascos (2 locations)1759 skyland Blvd // 553.88963380 mcfarland Blvd | northport // 330.0919

Margarita's Grill1241 mcfarland Blvd E // 343.0300

Moe’s Southwest Grill (2 locations)2330 mcfarland Blvd E // 342.14871130 university Blvd // 752.0234moes.com

Pepito’s (2 locations)1203 university Blvd | the strip // 391.90281301 mcfarland Blvd nE // 391.4861

Taco Mama2104 a university Blvd, tuscaloosa409.8173 FINE DININGChuck’s Fish508 Greensboro ave | Downtown tuscaloosa // 248.9370monday - thursday 5-10 p.m. and friday - saturday 5-11 p.m. steak, seafood, & sushi specialities. Daily specials: monday - $20 Bottles of Wine; tuesday - ladies night 1/2 off Domestic Beer and House Wine, select $5 martinis, $2 off select sushi Rolls for Everyone; uptown Wednesday - $6 uptown shrimp; featured cocktails and $20 Bottles of Wine. Cypress Inn501 Rice mine Rd // 345.6963fax: 345.6997 | www.cypressinnrestaurant.com2003 Restaurant of Distinction. Beautiful riverfront location.steaks, seafood and more with southern flavor. Wine list,full bar. specialities of the house include shrimp cypress innand smoked chicken with white barbecue sauce. Kid friendly. closed saturday lunch. mike spiller is featured the firstthursday of every month. Happy Hour- mon-fri from 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. featuring 1/2 price appetizers. $2 Domestic Draft Beers and $3 Well cocktails.

Epiphany Cafe19 Greensboro ave | Downtown tuscaloosa // 344.5583“new american cuisine” with a strong emphasis on localproduce, organic meats, and sustainable seafood. the menuis always changing and features include an extensive wine list, a large vibrant bar and martini lounge area, as well as patio seat-ing. Reservations are available online at epiphanyfinedining.com or through open table. Hours: mon–sat 5 p.m. - until

Evangeline’s1653 mcfarland Blvd. north // 752.0830located in the tuscaloosa Galleria. 2004 West alabamatourism award Winning Restaurant. american Eclecticcuisine. lunch: mon–fri 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Dinner: tues–sat 5 p.m. - until... fall: saturday Brunch.

FIVE Bar2324 6th street. // 205.345.6089a restaurant/bar based on simplicity. We offer 5 entrees, 5 red wines, 5 white wines, 5 import beers, 5 domestic, and 5 signature cocktails, to go along with our full liquor bar.Dinner: sunday - thursday 5-10; friday and saturday 5-12lunch: friday and saturday 11-3; sunday Jazz Brunch: 10-3five-bar.com; 205.345.6089

Kozy’s3510 loop Road E | near Va medical center // 556.4112Great locally-sourced foods and live piono music on the week-ends. |killionrestaurants.com/kozys/

Twin3700 6th st, tuscaloosa in tuscaloosa country club | 758-7528 | http://twinpowersactivate.comcertified usDa prime steaks; specialty sushi and cocktails. Hours: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.; 5 – 10 p.m. JAPANESEBenkei Japanese Steak House1223 mcfarland Blvd // 759-5300Hours: mon–thurs 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. | fri–sat 5 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Bento Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar1306 university Blvd // 758.7426

Hokkaido Japanese Restaurant607 15th street open sunday through thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and friday and saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Ichiban Japanese Grill & Sushi502 15th street // 752.8844

Tokyo Japanese Steak & Sushi Bar6521 Hwy 69 s | Hillcrest center // 366.1177offers steak, seafood, tempura, teriyaki and sushi. includingcooking at your table, if you choose. sun–thurs 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. fri & sat 5 p.m. - 11 p.m.

Kobe Steak House1800 mcfarland Blvd E | midtown Village // 759-1400lunch: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Dinner: 4:30 p.m. - 10 p.m.sat & sun 11:30 a.m. - 11 p.m. ITALIANAvenue Pub405 23rd avenue

Broadway Pizzeria2880 Rice mine Road northeast tuscaloosa, // 391.6969

DePalma’s Italian Cafe2300 university Blvd, Downtown // 759.1879menu ranges from sanwiches to finer pasta dishes and pizza.Varied beer and wine selection.Hours: mon–thurs 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. | fri & sat 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.www.depalmascafe.com

Little Italy1130 university Blvd. | tuscaloosa // 205.345.4343

Mellow Mushroom2230 university Blvd // 758.0112pizzas, calzones, hoagies and more. open dailyfor lunch and dinner. www.mellowmushroom.com

Mr. G’s908 mcfarland Blvd n | northport // 339-8505

Olive Garden2100 mcfarland Blvd E // 750-0321open daily from 11 a.m.www.olivegarden.com CASUAL DININGAvenue Pub405 23rd avenue // tuscaloosathe pub offers a different menu for brunch, lunch, and dinner. feature foods include pineapple french toast, pork sliders, and a house burger which changes daily. the drink menu features specialty cocktails, local pints, bottled beer, and wine. Monday through Friday 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., Saturday Noon – 11 p.m., Sunday Noon p.m. – 9 p.m.

Big Daddy’s Cafe514 Greensboro ave | Downtown tuscaloosa // 759.9925

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

Brumfield's Restaurant4851 Rice mine Road | Tuesday - Thursday: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m., Fri-day - Saturday: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m., and Sunday: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Buddy’s Ribs & Steaks2701 Bridge ave | northport // 339.4885

Buffalo Wild Wings2710 mcfarland Blvd // 523.0273mon–Wed 11 a.m. - midnight | thurs–sat 11 a.m. - 2 a.m.

Chicken Salad Chickthe shoppes at midtown & Essex square, northport | said to be the very best chicken salad that can be found anywhere. www.

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

YELLOW TAIL MERLOT // A SIPPER // BAREFOOT RED // SUGAR BOMB

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

Yellow Tail Merlot comes from Casella Wines in

South Eastern Australia. Casella is the family that runs the business and they are up to their sixth gen-eration of family members in the business.

The wine’s website has some interesting information you don’t normally find. For the Merlot, they state that the wine is Gluten-Free and each 6 ounce glass con-tains 120 calories.

There’s also a flavor map that puts Yellow Tail Merlot on the light and dry side of their wines.

In the glass, this wine is ruby to plum in color. A little bit of light shines through.

After allowing the wine to get some air I noted several small legs on the sides of the glass that fell slowly.

Yellow Tail Merlot is fairly aromatic. The aroma was noticeable from a foot away from the glass. On the nose were hints of cherry and a little spice.

Also noticed was a decent whiff of alcohol, which was a little surprising given the percentage of alcohol in the wine. My initial guess was at least 14%, but I was wrong. Actual Yellow Tail Merlot alcohol content 13.0% by volume, according to the bottle.

The wine’s flavors included plum and a hint of spice and vanilla. There was just a touch of sweetness that did a good job smoothing out the dryness of this wine.

Mouthfeel was of cotton and well be-haved tannins were felt all over the palate.

Finish of the Yellow Tail Merlot was medium to long. I noticed a slight buttery bitterness in the finish as well.

Overall, this is my favorite of the Yellow Tail wines I’ve reviewed so far. I’ve also reviewed the Cabernet and the Moscato.

Although I wouldn’t say this is a fan-tastic Merlot, I do think it’s enjoyable and is a sipper on its own. I liked the way the plum, spice and vanilla worked together with the dryness of this wine.

Yellow Tail suggests pairing this wine with antipasto and I agree that would work well with this wine.

Yellow Tail Merlot price $6.99. For that price, give it a try!

Barefoot Sweet Red Wine

Barefoot Sweet Red wine comes from Barefoot Cellars in Modesto, California.

The wine I tasted did not have a vintage on the bottle. It was labeled as a Red Wine Blend. Additionally, “Red Table

Wine” was stated on the label.Per the Barefoot Cellars website, Jen-

nifer Well is the winemaker and she joined Barefoot Cellars in 1995.

I was unable to locate any “official” listings of which grapes make up the blend for Barefoot Sweet Red wine. I did see some anecdotal reports of Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, Petite Sirah, Grenache and Barbera on other web sites.

Although Barefoot Cellars recom-mends chilling this wine, I chose to taste it at room temperature. I did chill it later and re-tasted it. I found that the only difference was some muting of the tannins and finish. And also a slightly crisper taste. It did not change my overall opinion of this wine.

In the glass, this wine is light garnet in color. A pretty good amount of light shines through, leaving dancing red lights under the glass.

The wine appears quite thin with no apparent legs at the outset. However, it became more leggy with air and time.

Very little alcohol was noted in the aroma. I would describe the aroma as raspberry candy with cherry mixed in.

Barefoot Sweet Red Wine alcohol content 10.5% per the bottle.

As the name suggests, this wine is sweet in flavor. It’s actually extremely sweet. Similar to Beringer White Zinfan-del in terms of sweetness.

The flavor is a combination of raspber-ry, strawberry and pomegranate. Truth-fully it’s a sugar bomb and you’ll find no dryness in this wine at all.

The wine has a delicate syrupy mouth-feel. Very slight tannins noted on the palate.

Barefoot Sweet Red’s finish was me-dium to long. Shorter when chilled. Given

the abundance of sweetness, I was surprised the finish wasn’t longer.

Overall, I didn’t like this wine. For a sweet red I’d prefer something with at least a little dryness like Cupcake Red Velvet.

I found Barefoot Sweet Red to be too sweet for my tastes. It certainly delivers on its promise as a sweet red wine. And, it might be good for someone who really really likes their wine sweet. But, to me this was com-parable to a fruit wine, given its juicy pome-granate flavors.

I also wasn’t pleased there was no way to tell what the varietals were.

Barefoot Sweet Red wine price $10.99

for the 1.5 L bottle.


chickensaladchick.com

Chili’s1030 skyland Blvd | near mcfarland mall // 750.8881fax: 758.7715 // www.chilis.com

Dave’s Dogs1701 mcfarland Blvd E | university mall // 722.2800

Five Guys Burgers & Fries1800 mcfarland Blvd E | midtown Village // 391.0575www.fiveguys.com

Glory Bound Gyro Company2325 university Blvd // 349-0505Glory Bound Gyro company is a unique restaurant that focuses on great food and service in a funky, fun-filled atmosphere.open mon-thu: 11am - 10pm | fri - sat: 11am-10pm |sun: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Heritage House700 towncenter | northport // 758.0042open mon-fri 7 a.m. – 6 p.m., sat. 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Hooligan’s1915 university Blvd // 759.2424from hamburgers to hummus. open daily 10 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Horny's508 Red Drew ave | tuscaloosa // 345.6869mon 4 p.m. - 2 a.m. | tues-thurs 11 a.m. - 2 a.m.fri 11 a.m. - 3 a.m. | sat 4 p.m. - 2 a.m.new orleans style atmosphere in the heart of tuscaloosa onthe strip. Horny's offerings include a full liquor bar, beer, anda variety of classic american food. Horny's Bar and Grill offers a limited late night menu from 1:30 a.m. - 2:30 a.m.

Logan's Roadhouse1511 skyland Blvd E // 349.3554

Madear’s1735 culver Road // 343.7773mon–fri 6 a.m. - 5 p.m. | 2nd & 3rd sunday 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Mugshots Grill & Bar511 Greensboro ave | Downtown tuscaloosa // 391.0572Great burgers & sandwiches. unique setting, full service bar,veggie entrees, kid friendly, and open latewww.mugshotsgrillandbar.com

Newk’s Express Cafe205 university Blvd. East // 758.2455fax: 758.2470 // www.newkscafe.coman express casual dining experience in a refreshing andstylish atmosphere. serving fresh tossed salads, oven bakedsandwiches, california style pizzas and homemade cakes fromnewk’s open kitchen. sun–Wed 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. | thurs–sat 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.

O’Charley’s3799 mcfarland Blvd // 556.5143open daily for lunch, dinner and sunday brunchwww.ocharleys.com

Panera Bread1800 mcfarland Blvd E | midtown Village // 366.8780www.panerabread.com

Piccadilly Cafeteria1701 mcfarland Blvd E | university mall // 556.4960www.piccadilly.com

Quick Grill1208 university Blvd | the strip // 342.0022www.bamaquickgrill.com

Ruby Tuesday (2 locations)6421 interstate Drive | cottondale // 633.3939Just off i-20/59 at exit 77. near Hampton inn and microtel inn311 merchants Walk | northport // 345.4540www.rubytuesdays.com

Ryan’s4373 courtney Dr // 366.1114near marriott courtyard and fairfield inn Sitar Indian Cuisine500 15th st // 345-1419

Southland Restaurant5388 skyland Blvd E // 556.3070steaks, chops and home-cooked vegetablesmon–fri 10:45 a.m. - 9 p.m.

T-Town Café500 14th street, tuscaloosa | 759-5559 |www.ttowncafe.co mon - fri: 5 a.m. - 9 p.m., sat: 5 a.m. - 3 p.m. sun: 10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Tacogi500 Greensboro ave | Downtown tuscaloosa // 342.3647

Tuscaloosa Burger & Seafood Company1014 7th ave. | tuscaloosa // 764.1976over 160 craft beers.tue. - thu 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; fri - sat 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; sun 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. large selection of decadent desserts.

Zoe’s Kitchen312 merchants Walk // 344.4450a wonderful selection of Greek foods

SPORTS GRILLBaumhower's Wings of Tuscaloosa500 Harper lee Drive | catering-pick-up tuscaloosa //556.5858 | always fresh and always fun. owned by former ua/miami Dolphins great Bob Baumhower. Kid friendly

Buffalo Phil’s1149 university Blvd | the strip // 758.3318sports grille with tVs galore. Diverse beer and wine selection, full barBilly's Sports GrillHistoric Downtown northport / 879.2238Good food, beverages and family friendlyMonday through Wednesday from 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m.-10 p.m., and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. till 9 p.m. (Sunday Brunch 10:30am-3pm).

Buffalo Wild Wings2710 mcfarland Blvd. East | tuscaloosa // 523.0273sports grille with tVs galore. Diverse beer and wineselection, full bar

Champs Sports Grille320 paul Bryant Drive | inside four points sheraton Hotel // 752.3200Breakfast and lunch buffets. sunday brunch 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Hooter’s5025 oscar Baxter Dr | next to Jameson inn // 758.3035Wings, clams, shrimp and of course the Hooters Girlswww.hooters.com

Innisfree Irish Pub1925 university Blvd | tuscaloosa // 345.1199

Moe's BBQ101 15th street | Downtown tuscaloosa // 752.3616mon-sat 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.Bar open until 2 a.m., 3 a.m. on fridays

Mugshots Grill & Bar511 Greensboro ave // 391.0572Great burgers. full service bar. open late.www.mugshotsgrillandbar.com

Tuscaloosa Burger & Seafood Company1014 7th ave. | tuscaloosa // 764.1976over 160 craft beers.tue. - thu 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; fri - sat 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; sun 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. large selection of decadent desserts

Wilhagan’s2209 4th st | Downtown tuscaloosa // 366.0913

Wings U 1800 mcfarland Blvd East suite 218 | pick-up tuscaloosa // 561.3984 features the first coal-fired pizza oven in alabama. owned by former ua/miami Dolphins great Bob Baumhower. completely open concept! www.wingsu.com

WingZone1241 mcfarland Blvd E | tuscaloosa // 342.2473

BARBEQUEArchibald & Woodrow's BBQ4215 Greensboro ave | tuscaloosa // 331.4858mon-sat 10:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. | sun lunch

Bama BBQ & Grill3380 mcfarland Blvd | northport // 333.9816

Dickey's BBQ (3 locations)9770 alabama 69; midtown; and 13544 Hwy 43 north at Rose Blvd. in northport. texas Barbecue. | 344.65001800 mcfarland Blvd, midtown Village, tuscaloosa. | 758-113313544 Hwy 43 north, Winn Dixie shopping center, northport. | 330-1147

Dreamland (2 locations)5535 15th ave | tuscaloosa // 758.8135101 Bridge ave | northport // 343.6677the legend. on game day, get there early if you want to makekickoff. seating is limited. Hours: mon–sat 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. | sun 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Hick’s BBQ4400 fayette Hwy // 339.3678 // tues–sat 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Moe's Original BBQ2101 university Blvd.. // 752.3616serving up an award-winning, all things southern BBQand live music experience. come dine-in or sit on thepatio and enjoy some great Que, beers, whiskey, and livemusic on thursday-saturday. Roll tide!mon–sat 11am - 10pm | Bar service mon-sat 2am andfri -3am | Kitchen closes at 10pm

Pottery Grill (2 locations)Highway 11 | cottondale // 554.18153420 alabama 69 | northport // 333.5848menu: thepotterygrill.comawesome barbecue. the pottery Grill serves up everything from pork, chicken, ribs and sausage to burgers, hot dogs and salads. take-out and catering available.

Tee’s Ribs and Thangs1702 10th avenue // 366.9974 |11 a.m. - 10 p.m. daily

STEAKSLogan’s Roadhouse1511 skyland Blvd | next to sams // 349.3554steaks, ribs and spirits

Longhorn Steakhouse1800 mcfarland Blvd E | midtown Village // 345-8244 #412

New Orleans Steak and Seafood House 824 McFarland Boulevard |11:00 a.m. till 11:00 p.m. daily. 248-7666

Nick's In the Sticks4018 culver Rd | tuscaloosa // 758.9316a long-time tuscaloosa tradition.Good steaks at a reasonable pricetry a nicodemus if you have a designated driver.

Outback Steakhouse5001 oscar Baxter Dr // 759.9000

Twin Restaurant3700 6th street |tuscaloosa | 758-7528 a full service restaurant specializing in sushi, prime steaks, made fresh daily pasta, and whiskey oriented cocktails. 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. // former tuscaloosa country club

SEAFOODChuck’s Fish508 Greensboro ave | Downtown tuscaloosa // 248.9370monday - thursday 5-10 p.m. and friday - saturday 5-11 p.m. steak, seafood, & sushi specialities. Daily specials: monday - $20 Bottles of Wine; tuesday - ladies night 1/2 off Domestic Beer and House Wine, select $5 martinis, $2 off select sushi Rolls for Everyone; uptown Wednesday - $6 uptown shrimp; featured cocktails and $20 Bottles of Wine.

>>> RESTAURANTS | W H E R E T O E A T I N T U S C A L O O S A ( C O N T . ) >>> BEER REVIEW | B R E T T R E I D

ABITA MACCHIATO ESPRESSO MILK STOUT // A STEP ABOVE

outside in July. Kind of weird, but we’ll go with it.

The mouthfeel was on par with what you would expect. A nice, smooth coffee stout with a nice creaminess factor to it mixes well with the chocolate notes you can pick up in the end. Carbonation was really mellow and that helped a lot with the drinkability of the beer. There’s nothing I hate more than getting a milk stout that is so carbonated it’s impossible to enjoy (see Straight to Ale’s Lily Flag Milk Stout.) Hark-ing back to when I mentioned how thick the beer looked, well, that was pretty much true. The thickness of the beer was a little difficult to power through on a full stomach. This is one I would like to drink again after a lighter meal and maybe pair it with some nice Belgian chocolate to really bring out that milk chocolate sweetness in the beer.

Overall, this brew was a step above most things in Abita’s wheelhouse. There’s complexity and flavor profiles that they have never really explored before, and I’d say it is a pretty good representation of the style. Of course with all Abita beers, there’s that watered down aspect that they just can’t seem to get away from, but I guess that’s just part of their brand. I like the direction Abita is heading in and I can’t wait to see what the spring and summer bring for special releases.

I love to see revitalization of breweries that go through a dark period. We all

know about Abita, but I’m not positive I know anyone that absolutely loves their beer. It’s really just okay, and I feel bad for saying that. Although, when you’re that big, there are some obstacles you have to overcome before you can delve into the realm of experimentation.

For now, it seems as if the ducks are in a row, because Abita has begun creat-ing several special edition brews only available in 22oz. bottles. The only two I’ve come across are the Imperial Stout aged in Bourbon barrels and this Mac-chiato Espresso Milk Stout. I’m not big on bourbon, but I do love a good coffee stout. I bought a bottle and brought it home, and, to be honest, I was pleasantly surprised by the flavors I got.

Before I go any further, I want to talk about the art for these newer releases. Whoever has been hired to do these labels needs a gigantic pat on the back. The only thing that gets me more excited than great beer is great packaging. The artwork on this bottle is beautiful and has a really great French Quarter coffee shop vibe, which I love. The art is printed directly on the glass and makes each bottle some-what of a collectable, if you’re into that like I am, and that’s cool, because it’s not something that’s going to be made forever.

This beer pours almost a pitch-black color with a thick, frothy, mocha-colored head; easily two finger widths high. As this one was pouring, the thickness of the beer began to worry me. Normally, when it’s super thick, there’s a ridiculous amount of sweetness from the lactose that really just makes it almost impossible to drink; that and the fact that it sits on your stomach like concrete. Either way, while it pours you get these great aromas of coffee and chocolate that really blend together nicely, I mean, come on, of course they do. The head settles pretty slowly and leaves a nice bit of lacing around the glass with some splotchy areas resting on top of the beer.

As soon as the beer hits your tongue, you’re bombarded by coffee and sweet milk flavors. They blend together perfectly and create that wonderful macchiato flavor that serves the name justice. There is a light sweetness from the lactose that lends to the milk-chocolate flavors that become prevalent towards the latter half of the sip. Aftertaste is overwhelmingly coffee centered, but I don’t mind. It’s pretty good coffee to say the least, because during the cold brewing process, they add espresso dolce beans from PJ’s Coffee, a coffee-house originating in New Orleans. The flavor of this one isn’t really unique in any way, but the execution is where this one shines. This one has dessert beer written all over it. I’d only suggest drinking this one in the cooler months, but that’s just my opinion, because if you’re one of those people that likes to crack open a nice milk stout when it’s 90 degrees outside you’re probably the kid that drank chocolate milk


Photo: Sheena Gregg

>>> RESTAURANTS | W H E R E t o E a t i n t u s c a l o o s a ( c o n t . )

New Orleans Steak and Seafood House 824 McFarland Boulevard |11:00 a.m. till 11:00 p.m. daily. 248-7666

Red Lobster2620 mcfarland Blvd // 553.8810mcfarland plaza shopping center

Tin Top Restaurant & Oyster Bar 4851 Rice mine Rd nE #460 // 462.3399mcfarland plaza shopping center & temerson square

Tuscaloosa Burger & Seafood Company1014 7th ave. | tuscaloosa // 764.1976over 160 craft beers.tue. - thu 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; fri - sat 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; sun 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. large selection of decadent desserts.

Wintzell’s Oyster House1 Bridge ave | northport // 247.7772casual riverfront diningsun–thurs 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. | fri–sat 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.

CHINESEBuffet City1747 skyland Blvd E // 553.3308all you can eat buffet. open 7 days a week.

Chang’s Chinese Restaurant1825 mcfarland Blvd n // 391.9131China Fun2600 university Blvd | alberta city // 553.2435

China GardenHwy 69 s | Hillcrest center // 758.0148

Chongwah Express1425 mcfarland Boulevard, northport. 333-1088

Hot Wok Express6751 alabama 69, tuscaloosa // 758.0148

Lee Palace6521 Highway 69 s // 391.9990open daily 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Mr. Chen's Authentic Chinese Cooking & Oriental Market514 14th st. | in the oz music shopping center //343.6889 // open sun - thu 11am - 9pm,fri & sat 11am - 9:30pm

Pearl Garden2719 lurleen Wallace Blvd | northport // 339.0880

Peking Chinese Restaurant1816 mcfarland | northport // 333.0361open 7 days a week. super lunch and dinner buffet.Hours: sun–thurs 11 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. | fri & sat 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Swen Chinese Restaurant1130 university Blvd | the strip // 391.9887

Trey Yuen4200 mcfarland Blvd E // 752.0088

ASIAN CUISINERuan Thai1407 university Blvd // 391.9973 | ruanthaituscaloosa.comExotic thai cuisine. offers vegetarian options, outdoor dining,and a full bar. sushi on thursdays. lunch: mon–sat 11 a.m. -2 p.m. | Dinner: mon–thurs 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. fri & sat 5 p.m. -10pm | sun 11 a.m. -3 p.m.

Surin of Thailand1402 university Blvd // 752.7970authentic thai restaurant and sushi bar. open daily.lunch: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Dinner: 5 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.www.surinofthailand.com

PIZZA AND SUBSA Taste Of Chicago1700 Greensboro avenue 205-342-DoGsmon. - thurs. 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.; fri. - sat. 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.17th street and Greensboro avenue. authentic chicago style foods. italian Beef sandwiches, chicago Rib tips, and chicago style pizza.

California Underground13552 Highway 43, northport | 339.8660

Firehouse Subs1130 university Blvd | tuscaloosa // 248.0680

Hungry Howie’s (2 locations)1105 southview ln | south tuscaloosa // 345.60001844 mcfarland Blvd | northport // 333.26331211 university Blvd | tuscaloosa | the strip // 366.15004851 Rice mine Rd | northriver/Holt // 345.3737

Lenny’s Sub Shop220 15th st // 752.7450fax: 752.7481 // www.lennys.com

Little Caesars Pizza1414 10th ave // 366.2220 | 1www.littlecaesars.com

Little Italy1130 university Blvd. // 345.4354

Mellow Mushroom2230 university Blvd | Downtown tuscaloosa // 758.0112

Subs n' You2427 university Blvd. | tuscaloosa // 205.758.0088

Roly Poly Sandwiches2300 4th street | tuscaloosa // 366.1222

The Pita Pit1207 university Blvd | the strip // 345.9606Hours: mon–sat 10:30 a.m. - 3 a.m. | sun 11:30 a.m. - midnight

Pizza 12050115th st. East | 561.6853

Pizza Palace Buffet6521 alabama 69 | 752.5444Tut’s Place1306 university Blvd | the strip // 759.1004

DELICATESSENHoneybaked Ham Company421 15th st. E // 345.5508www.honeybaked.com

Jason’s Deli2300 mcfarland Blvd // 752.6192fax: 752.6193 // www.jasonsdeli.comlocated in the meadowbrook shopping center.

Jimmy John’s (3 locations)1400 university Blvd | the strip // 366.36991875 mcfarland Blvd n | northport // 752.7714815 lurleen B. Wallace s | tuscaloosa // 722.2268Delivery 7 days a week.www.jimmyjohns.com

Manna Grocery & Deli2300 mcfarland Blvd E | tuscaloosa // 752.9955

McAlister’s Deli (2 locations)101 15th st | tuscaloosa // 758.00393021 tyler Dr | northport // 330.7940sandwiches, salads and spudswww.mcalistersdeli.com

Momma Goldberg’s Deli409 23rd ave // 345.5501www.mommagoldbergs.com

Newk's205 university Blvd E | tuscaloosa // 758.2455

Schlotsky’s Deli405 15th st. E // 759.1975schlotskys.com

Which Wichuniversity Blvd.// Downtown tuscaloosa // mon – sat 10:30 – 9 // sunday 11 – 7 // fun atmosphere,fresh ingredients, great sand-wiches. 764.1673

COFFEE SHOPBarnes & Noble1800 mcfarland Blvd E | tuscaloosa349.6366

Chloe's Cup2117 university Blvd.| tuscaloosa // 764.0218

Crimson Cafe International Coffee House & Gourmet Deli1301 university Blvd | the strip // 750.0203mon–fri 7 a.m. - 11 p.m. | sat & sun 8 a.m. - 11 p.m.thecrimsoncafe.com

Five Javacoffee, fresh juices, smoothies and treats from mary's cakes. open monday - saturday at 7am; 9am on sundays

Heritage House700 towncenter | northport // 758.0042open mon-fri 7 a.m. – 6 p.m., sat. 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Krispy Kreme Doughnut1400 mcfarland Blvd // 758.6913www.krispykreme.com

Starbucks (2 locations)1800 mcfarland Blvd E | midtown Village // 343.24681901 13th ave East | inside super target // 462.1064starbucks.com

DESSERTSCelebrations Bakery, Inc.1832 mcfarland Blvd n | northport // 339.3221fax: 349.1945

Cold Stone Creamery1130 university Blvd. | tuscaloosa //343.1670specializes in customized ice creamHours: mon–thurs 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. | fri & sat 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.sun 12 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Dunkin' Donuts2520 stillman Blvd. |tuscaloosa// 349.3400mccorvey Dr. | tuscaloosa // 348.4041www.dunkindonuts.com

Mary's Cakes & Pastries412 22nd avenue | behind opus | northport // 345.8610www.maryscakesandpastries.common–fri 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. | sat 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Smoothie King (2 locations)415 15th street | tuscaloosa // 349.1721fax: 349.19451403 university Blvd | tuscaloosa // 462.3664

Sweet CeCe's Frozen yogurt Treats2217 university Blvd. | Downtown tuscaloosa // 561.6458a fun and friendly make your own creation,yogurt experience!

TCBY (3 Locations)2304 mcfarland Blbd | meadowbrook shopping center //349.4661 // 2 mcfarland Blvd | northport | Essex shoppingcenter // 758.6855 // 1130 univ. Blvd. | the strip // 345.0804

Yogurt In Lovepatriot center 7402 Highway 69 southphone number: 764.9173 fax number: 764.9228monday-thursday 11 a.m. - 9 p.m., friday & saturday 11 a.m.-10 pm.

TO HAVE YOUR RESTAURANT LISTED HERE PLEASE EMAIL [email protected]

>>> R E S T A U R A N T R E V I E W | S H E E N A G R E G G

"NOLA" STEAK & SEAFOOD HOUSE // TO BE CONTINUED

When people think of New Orleans, thoughts of partying, historical

places, and maybe even the Sugar Bowl come to mind. Many may argue how-ever that great food with bold flavors is the main thought when thinking of Nola. Tuscaloosa resident, Mo Ezez says that these flavors inspired his newest venture in T-town. “I wanted to bring some of New Orleans back to Tuscaloosa, which I felt needed some variety in the restaurant scene,” says Ezez. Enter New Orleans Steak and Seafood House, debuting in Northport on January 5th.

I first noticed this Nola themed restau-rant while having dinner next door at Mr. G’s last month. A packed parking lot and signage that featured seafood caught my eye. I knew I’d have to keep this restau-rant on my radar for a future lunch or dinner outing. After scouring the internet reading reviews and searching for an online menu, I was still left curious. Diners on Urbanspoon, Yelp, and TripAdvisor had a love/hate relationship with North-port’s newest eatery. Without a website or even a grainy photo of the menu on Urbanspoon, I knew I’d have to take a gamble on whether or not to dine for lunch or dinner.

I decided to try the Steak and Seafood House for lunch with my friend Lindsey, a fellow nutritionist. We were greeted promptly and taken to a table near the front of the restaurant. Quickly scanning the menu I realized that the lunch menu options were vastly different from the pictures of crawfish etouffee, shrimp and grits, and rib eye steak I had seen online. Recognizing that this was our first visit, our server kindly asked if he could make suggestions. I decided on his offering of the Cajun chicken sandwich, blackened and served on French bread with fries. Lindsey opted for a classic grilled chicken salad with ranch dressing and a special request for no black olives.

While waiting on our food, we had the opportunity to try the restaurant’s signa-ture crawfish dip, a creamy parmesan concoction with chunks of fresh crawfish and crispy flour tortilla chips. Though I wish the dip had been a bit warmer and

thicker, I found the flavor of the dip good, satisfied with the amount of crawfish in the mix.

As the clock struck closer to noon, I noticed additional diners start to trickle in. I glanced at the bar area and tried to imagine the ambiance that’s created for the dinner crowd. With a newly issued liquor license, I could certainly see this place as the perfect happy hour venue. Our food was quickly delivered by our kind server. My sandwich was presented open-faced with two slices of yellow cheese melted over the chicken breast. Lindsey’s salad was plentiful with a nice amount of grilled chicken. Unfortunately the black olives were bountiful in the salad, leaving Lindsey to tediously pick them out before eating. I found the chicken breast in my sandwich juicy and flavorful, enjoying the seasonings used to prepare my meal. Grabbing a bite of Lindsey’s salad, I noted that her chicken was flavorful as well.

Missing out on the true Cajun dishes that owner Mo Ezez aimed to bring to Tuscaloosa, I feel like my review of Northport’s newest restaurant is yet to be completed. Having vastly different lunch and dinner menus just like many other res-taurants, I recognize that a trip for dinner is warranted for a full appraisal. Boasting a made from scratch seafood gumbo, I know that dinner is on the to-do list. I’d even like to come back for lunch, especial-ly after noticing a macaroni and cheese burger on the menu…

New Orleans Steak and Seafood House is located at 824 McFarland Bou-levard and open from 11:00 a.m. till 11:00 p.m. daily. Tweet us @ThePlanetWeekly and let us know where you are eating!

Sheena Gregg, MS, RDN,LD is a registered dietitian nutritionist and local “Filipino foodie.” Follow her on Twitter @AFilipi-noFoodie

Photo: Sheena Gregg


"I want to debunk the say-ing 'feed a cold, starve a fever'. Anytime your body is fighting a sick-ness, nutritious foods will aid your immune system in getting rid of whatever you are battling."

BACKROAD ANTHEM

>>> H E A LT H | R AC H E L S T E I N E R , D C

THE COLD & FLU SEASON // BEING ON THE DEFENSIVE

eficial, eat fruits and vegetables that are rich in colors like red, orange, yellow, purple, and dark green such as toma-toes, oranges, bell peppers, eggplant, spinach, and blueberries. Don’t forget that healthy eating is not just a winter concern but should be developed into habits for a healthier life.

Start taking vitamins aka “Fight-amins”. Our Vitamin D levels decrease in the winter months because the sun is not as power-ful and the amount of sunshine becomes few and far between. Unfortunately, you can only consume a small amount of Vitamin D in your diet so you need to take matters into your own hands. Why Vita-min D? Because it helps

the body fight off colds. In fact research shows, taking 10,000 IU of Vitamin D a day can help fight respiratory infection.

Drink more water. Water oxygen-ates your blood and flushes out toxins from your body. It also hydrates all your organs and specifically your eyes and mouth, which keeps them moist to repel viruses. What I recommend to my patients in the office is drinking half your body weight in ounces of water per day. For example-if you weigh 160 pounds, you should be drinking 80 ounces of water each day. Try it, it will change the way you look and feel.

Avoid Sugar and Dairy. According to research, the amount of sugar in one can of soda (Or my northern lingo, a can of pop) can decrease your immune sys-tem by 30% for 3 hours. Some will argue that sugar should be completely avoided in your diet however, sugar intake should be limited to 9 and 6 teaspoons respectively for men and women. Dairy products increase mucus production and thickness, making it harder to fight congestion. Dairy also increases inflam-mation in the body, which can lead to

Looking at the upcoming weekly weather, I see temperatures of mid

60’s and lows in the 20’s in the forecast here in Tuscaloosa. I wear my winter jacket (which I previously wore in my snowy home state of Ohio) to work in the morning, but by the afternoon I could almost be in shorts. It is the many mood swings of weather here that mani-fests into the “cold and flu” season.

I don’t watch a lot of television, however I have seen more than my share of Tamiflu or Robitussin commer-cials! Instead of taking these medications once you are already infested with sickness, your defense weapon should always be doing things to prevent them from happening in the first place. Through research and personal opinions from being in the field of conservative health-care, these are some helpful tips to stay healthy and keep your body functioning at its greatest potential.

Get some exercise. Exercising in-creases the immune system through the release of endorphins and sweating out toxic substances. With added stress- whether it is physical, emotional, or mental, sends the bodies’ immune sys-tem into a downward spiral. However, physical activity decreases stress levels by releasing “happy hormones” and mentally clearing the mind. Also good news, if you are already sick exercise stimulates the production of epineph-rine, which constricts blood vessels in and around your mucous membranes and can relieve nasal discomfort and congestion.

Eat your way to health. Think of food as an insurance policy, like a preventive strike against cold and flu season. Eat a diet that is high in anti-oxidants, which are found in fruits and vegetables. More specifically and ben-

further constricted airways, making it harder to breathe.

Eat your Protein. Research shows that a diet too low in protein can deplete the immune system. The recommended about of protein per day set by the American Registered Dietician Asso-ciation is .4 grams per pound of body weight. So again if we take a 160-pound person and multiple that by .4 grams, this person should be consuming 64 grams of protein per day. Good sources of protein include lean meats such as chicken breasts and turkey, eggs, le-gumes, peanut butter, and whole grains such as quinoa.

Chiropractic Care. First of all let me say, chiropractic care is not a cure for the common cold. Regular chiropractic care, however, will increase a person’s natural resistance to colds through natural resis-tance. The natural resistance I am talking about is the body’s ability to function optimally, which can only happen if one is free of misalignments of the spine. These misalignments prevent proper nerve flow through the body and lower its natural resistance to fight illnesses.

In closing, I want to debunk the say-ing “feed a cold, starve a fever”. Any-time your body is fighting a sickness, nutritious foods will aid your immune system in getting rid of whatever you are battling. Also, when you have a fever your metabolism is higher which means you are burning more calories than you normally would due to the higher tem-perature of your body. So you actually

need more calories for energy and for your body to function properly.

Although these are suggestions for preventing a cold or flu, in general they are healthy habits that should be imple-mented year around. Trying all of these at once may seem overwhelming, but instead, try adding one change a week. Making small changes at a time will add up to a big change and in return a much healthier you. Best of luck and I wish you the healthiest, happiest year yet!

FOR YOUR WINTER WELLNESS

Bone Broth(Making it Simple in the Crockpot!)

FREE DEMONSTRATION

Saturday February 21st3:15 p.m.

Pre-registration is encouragedFor more information call

205-310-7197Or email

[email protected]. Sarita Cox

817 21st AvenueTuscaloosa, AL 35401


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

A RARE PARTNERSHIP // NETFLIX & NINTENDO

"12 Monkeys"

"Agent Carter"

continuations once television stations have cancelled them, but they’ve been popular for hosting their own series such as “House of Cards” and “Orange is the New Black”. This makes them widely known, and the production value of these shows is nearly better than actual television, so quality sticklers would have no worries about a low-quality Link.

Although they have a lot going for them, Netflix’s corporate team does have their work cut out for them. The Journal reports that Nintendo has kept a close eye on its franchises after a “Super Mario Bros” movie crashed at the box office in 1993, and the first at-tempt at a live action “Zelda” series ran for only one season. They still have a long way to go before they can begin production, and the series may even get killed before it starts. Only time can tell whether or not Link will come to life on Netflix, or if Nintendo will discontinue talks about the series.

Currently there have been no talks of halting pre-production, and Netflix is looking for writers for the series. Due to the rocky nature of the show, there have been no other comments released by either Netflix or Nintendo.

Video game fans of all ages will know the names Link and Zelda.

The massively popular video game franchise “Legend of Zelda” has been going strong for decades, with the first game released in 1987 by Nintendo. It has spawned spin off games, costumes, even an attempt at a live action series in 1989. This go around, Netflix is going to try a live action “Zelda” series as well.

First reported by The Wall Street Journal, they say that Netflix is doing a rare partnership with Nintendo to create the series, and say that Netflix describes the pre-production series as “a family friendly Game of Thrones”. The story follows a boy named Link as he meets creative characters and goes on amazing adventures, all on the way to rescue Princess Zelda.

Nintendo has come out with around twenty video games for the franchise, so unlike most television shows and movies featured from video games, Netflix will have a lot of material to work with on this show. Each game has different side plots and characters, so the plot possibilities are endless. This branch-out into a different area of the fantasy genre might also help Netflix gain some new subscribers from video game fans who are always looking for a new way to enjoy their favorite games.

Netflix would be the perfect platform. The online streaming site has thousands of subscrib-ers, and not only do they host already produced series and take up


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

AMERICAN SNIPER // STRAIGHTFORWARD AND REVERENT // FIRST RATE ACTION ✭✭✭✭out of 4

In his gritty, 132 minute, R-rated, com-bat biography “American Sniper” pro-

ducer & director Clint Eastwood treats the life of real-life protagonist Chris Kyle with unmistakable reverence. This tragic but heroic account of the deadli-est sharpshooter in U.S. military history is compelling as well as propelling from fade-in to fade-out. Similarly, “A-Team” actor Bradley Cooper delivers a career best performance as the legendary Texas native who racked up 160 con-firmed kills as a sniper during four tours of duty in Iraq.

Cooper packed on nearly 40 pounds so he could impersonate the beefy Kyle, and the actor assured “Men’s Health” magazine that the 6000 calories-per-day diet that he shoveled down consti-tuted a challenge in itself. According to “People” magazine, real-life Navy SEAL sniper Kevin Lacz, who fought alongside Kyle, taught Cooper how to handle the sophisticated sniper weaponry. This so-ber but never simple-minded saga about the Iraqi war doesn’t so much ponder the polemical politics that prompted America’s participation in the fighting as much as its use as a historical setting. Indeed, Kyle was gung-ho about serving his country after suicide bombers had blasted the Marine barracks to rubble in Beirut in 1983.

Meantime, people who have read Kyle’s 2012 memoir may complain about some of the liberties that Eastwood and “Paranoia” scenarist Jason Hall have taken in their adaptation of the New York Times bestseller. Nevertheless, Eastwood has fashioned a realistic but patriotic film with a wrinkle or two that has mesmerized domestic audiences. For example, Kyle believed in what he was doing in Iraq while his younger brother abhorred not only the war but also the country. Eastwood celebrates the sacrifices that these citizens made without turning “American Sniper” into a rabble-rousing, Rambo fantasy.

“American Sniper” opens in Iraq with Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle (Bradley Cooper) sprawled belly down on a Fal-lujah roof-top checking potential threats

to the Marines on the street below as they rattle one door after another in search of hostiles. Initially, Kyle spots a military-age, Iraqi native on a balcony. Chatting on a cell phone, he is watching the troops approach him. This suspi-cious fellow vanishes from Kyle’s sight. Moments later, a mother dressed like an angel of death in black emerges onto the street with her son. The mother hands her son a grenade, and they approach a tank with troops following it. Just as Kyle is scrutinizing these two civilians through his sniper scope, his spotter warns him that he could land in the military prison at Fort Leavenworth for shooting friendly civilians.

This issue arises more than once in “American Sniper.” Civilians in combat zones without a good reason created a quandary because our guys couldn’t be sure who was either sympathetic or unfriendly. Anyway, as Kyle caresses the trigger of his sniper rifle, Eastwood flashbacks to Kyle’s life as a Texas teen shooting his first deer. Eastwood and Hall furnish us with a montage of Kyle’s life along with his God-fearing father’s philosophy.

We see Kyle rush to the rescue of his younger brother Jeff on the playground at their elementary school as an obese bully beats up Jeff. At the dinner table, Kyle’s stern father Wayne (Ben Reed of “Scanner Cop”) categorizes humans into three types: predatory wolves, sheep, and sheepdogs. Brandishing his rolled up belt for emphasis, Wayne warns them that they will neither be predators nor sheep, but instead sheepdogs. Wayne promises to punish them for anything less. During his military service, Chris behaves like a sheepdog. Repeatedly, he risks his life to save his fellow Ma-rines. Occasionally, “American Sniper” lightens up and lets you laugh with Chris about his romantic conquests both good and bad.

Aside from a protracted flashback sequence early into the action, “Ameri-can Sniper” adheres to a conventional, straightforward storyline, chronicling the high points of Kyle’s experiences under

fire. Comparatively, director Peter Berg’s “Lone Survivor” (2013), starring Mark Wahlberg, could serve as a companion piece to “American Sniper.” The big dif-ference is Bradley Cooper’s SEAL team hero displays no compunctions about shooting kids, whereas Mark Wahlberg’s real-life SEAL team hero Marcus Luttrell couldn’t bring himself to kill an innocent goat herder’s son.

Meanwhile, “American Sniper” al-ternates between our hero’s harrowing battlefield exploits and his home front activities with his wife and family. East-wood doesn’t immortalize Chris Kyle as an invincible, larger-than-life, titan. Actu-ally, we watch in horror as Kyle unravels with each tour until he can no longer tol-erate the traumatic pressure of combat. In this respect, “American Sniper” doesn’t pull any punches about the caliber of warfare that our guys had to contend with in Iraq. Mind you, it isn’t gripping in the same slam-bang sense that “Black Hawk Down” was, but “American Sniper” still qualifies as a tour-de-force, first-rate, action yarn. I don’t think Bradley Coo-per will clinch the Best Actor Oscar, but you will know that Cooper takes his craft seriously. Aside from Cooper, the only other three-dimensional, flesh-and-blood

character is Kyle’s long-suffering wife, Taya (British actress Sienna Miller of “Foxcatcher”), who goes toe-to-toe with him.

Primarily, Eastwood filters everything through Kyle’s perspective, and you don’t witness any of those standard-issue scenes with natty politicians and high-ranking officers arguing about strategy at headquarters. Eastwood rarely shifts the focus away from either Kyle with his fam-ily or Kyle with his buddies. Of course, Kyle and his buddies form a tightly knit group from their rigorous beachfront SEAL team training to the devastating combat in Iraq. Predictably, warfare dwin-dles their numbers. Particularly shat-tering is Kyle’s loss of his buddy Biggles (Jake McDorman of “Aquamarine”) who survives long enough to die in surgery. The camaraderie between Kyle and Biggles is sometimes hilarious as well as distressing. Kyle’s younger brother Jeff (Keir O'Donnell of “Wedding Crash-ers”) drifts into and out of the action. Jeff accompanies Kyle on the rodeo circuit in Texas and later follows him to the battlefield in Iraq. Altogether, “American Sniper” ranks as a memorable military actioneer with some salty dialogue.


Meet Isaac, a two-year-old male Spaniel/Terrier mix. He has a

handsome tri-color coat of white, black and tan markings. Isaac is a small dog, weighing only 15 pounds. He was pulled from our local animal shelter, where he had been picked up by Ani-mal Control and no one came to claim him. He had been down there almost a month, so it was time to get him out! Isaac is a terrier and has some energy and attitude! He will want to rule the roost! He should be fine in an apart-ment, as long as he gets daily walks. He will require a fenced yard if left un-attended any outside. He seems to do fine with other dogs and with children over age 16. We have started his crate training. Isaac is up to date on his vet

care, neutered, heartworm negative and he is microchipped. He is on heartworm and flea/tick prevention. Isaac is a cute, sweet dog that needs some TLC so he’ll know not all humans give up on their pets! How can you resist that smile? If you are interested in giving Isaac the forever home he wants and deserves, visit the Humane Society of West Alabama at humanesocietyofwa.org or call us at 554-0011.

>>> EVENTS CALENDAR | T H E S O U T H E A S T ' S L A R G E S T

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13ALABAMA REPERTORY DANCE THEATERWHEN: 5:30COST: $14-20WHERE: 428 Colonial DrPHONE: 348.3400LINK: theatre.ua.eduDESCRIPTION: The pre-professional dance company Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre (ARDT) returns to the stage for a spring concert featuring all-new choreography by award-winning dance faculty. Come see these talented dancers perform at Morgan Hall for the last two days of the production. The final Saturday show begins at 2 p.m.

CRIMSON TIDE GYMNASTICS VS BOISE STATEWHEN: 7:30 p.m.COST: $5 – 10WHERE: 323 Paul Bryant DrPHONE: 348.6111LINK: rolltide.comDESCRIPTION: Show your support for the elite gymnasts of the Crimson Tide as they face the team from Boise State University. Adult tickets are $10 and youth tickets are $5 at the Coleman Coliseum.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14VALENTINE’S DAY DANCEWHEN: 7 – 10 p.m.COST: $5 Student, $8 General, $12 GuestWHERE: 640 Bear Creek RoadPHONE: 394.1493LINK: taylorvillebaptist.comDESCRIPTION: The Tuscaloosa Ball-room Dance Club invites anyone to come celebrate the romantic holiday at the Taylorville United Methodist Church. Attire is dressy casual, and there will be music provided by Jimmy Kunz.

MARDIS GRAS AT THE MUSEUMWHEN: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.COST: $6 – 9WHERE: 2213 University BlvdPHONE: 349.4235LINK: chomonline.orgDESCRIPTION: The Children’s Hands-On Museum invites families and kids of all ages to have Mardi Gras fun with food, ac-tivities and crafts. Enjoy everything Mardi Gras from king cake and masks to beads and moon pies! All activities are included with the price of admission.

CRIMSON TIDE BASKETBALL VS VANDERBILTWHEN: 7:30 p.m.COST: $10 – 20 WHERE: 323 Paul Bryant DrPHONE: 348.6111LINK: rolltide.comDESCRIPTION: Show your support for the men of the Crimson Tide as they face the Commodores from Vanderbilt University. Adult tickets are $20 and youth tickets are $10 at the Coleman Coliseum. Bring your Valentine and participate in a special “buy one get one free” promotion.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15CHINESE SPRING FESTIVALWHEN: 5 – 8 p.m.

COST: TBDWHERE: 715 Campus DrPHONE: 348.6010LINK: asianstudies.ua.eduDESCRIPTION: Join University Programs and the Association of Chinese Students and Scholars at this year’s Chinese Spring Festival! Students are encouraged to come help celebrate the Chinese New Year on Sunday, Feb. 15 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Ferguson Student Center. Activities will include learning to write Chinese characters, a traditional dragon dance, Chinese cuisine and much more! Tickets will be sold at the Ferguson Stu-dent Center.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16 EURYDICEWHEN: 7:30COST: $10WHERE: Rowand-Johnson Hall, Stadium DrPHONE: 348.3400LINK: theatre.ua.eduDESCRIPTION: This outstanding produc-tion of Sarah Ruhl’s take on a Greek myth is guaranteed to capture your attention. Students in the University of Alabama theater program invite you to the Allen-Bales Theatre Monday through Sunday Feb. 22 to enjoy the performance. Buy your tickets online to secure a seat for this intimate show.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17SALSA UP!WHEN: 6:30COST: FreeWHERE: 400 Campus DrPHONE: 348.7525LINK: theatre.ua.eduDESCRIPTION: Join University Programs for its Discovery Series event at the Stu-dent Recreation Center, Salsa UP! UA’s Crimson Tide Ballroom Dancers will teach students the basic steps for Salsa danc-ing! Registration is free at upua.tix.com.

BAMA ART HOUSE PRESENTS ‘A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE AT NIGHT”WHEN: 7:30 p.m.COST: $7 – 8 WHERE: 600 Greensboro Ave.PHONE: 758.5195LINK: bamatheatre.orgDESCRIPTION: In the Iranian ghost-town Bad City, a place that reeks of death and loneliness, the townspeople are unaware they are being stalked by a lonesome vampire. Come see the widely acclaimed film by director Ana Lily Amirpour and enjoy the music of the Voodoo Saints with the purchase of a ticket at the Bama Theatre.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18FROM THE ALABAMA OVAL: PAINT-INGS BY RICHARD BURTONWHEN: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.COST: FreeWHERE: 700 Capstone DrPHONE: 348.1890LINK: art.ua.eduDESCRIPTION: Internationally renowned contemporary artist and Alabama native Richmond Burton will exhibit a selection of paintings at the Sarah Moody Gallery of

SMILEY ISAAC // MELLOW MOE>>> PET PLANET | K E L S E Y C A M E R O N

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

This beautiful sweetheart is Moe, an adult female brown and white tabby.

She's vet-estimated to be under 5 years of age, maybe by a year or two. She has gigantic, gorgeous yellow eyes and a standout heart-shaped pink nose. So cute! Moe is a laid-back and mellow lady! Moe is gentle, and she would do well in a quiet household. She would also do well with gentle children. We aren't sure how well she'd do around dogs since she's never been around them. Moe would do well as an only pet or with another friend-ly cat or two. Moe can be a little curious! She likes exploring, climbing and finding "hidey spots" or cubby holes to peer out of. Stop in at our cat adoption center or contact us to meet Moe! She is negative for FIV and FeLK, current on vaccina-tions and spayed. If you are interested in giving Moe the forever home she wants and deserves, visit the Humane Society of West Alabama at humanesocietyofwa.org or call us at 554-0011.

Walk for a Dog: The Humane Society of West Alabama has recently been added to the Walk for a Dog app. If you own a smart phone, please download this app and choose our organization as the one you would like to walk for. Whenever you go for a walk with your dog, all you have to do is go to the app and click “start.” The Walk for a Dog app will track your distance and automatically donate to the Humane Society of West Alabama at no cost to you! Please share this information with your friends and family!

NEW APP LETS YOU RAISE MONEY BY WALKING YOUR DOG—AT NO COST TO YOU


Check out our new website:www.theplanetweekly.com

POWERFUL WEEKEND // THIRD ANNUAL BLACK WARRIOR FILM FESTIVAL

>>> EVENTS CALENDAR | T H E S O U T H E A S T ' S L A R G E S T>>> F I L M | S T A f f R E P O R T

Art, February 19 through March 27. Burton will lecture about his work on Wednesday, February 18 at 7:00 p.m. in 205 Smith Hall. There will be an artist’s reception on Thursday, February 19 from 6-8 p.m. in the gallery in 103 Garland Hall. Burton lik-ens the oval in his visual language to the meticulous and repetitive practice that a racecar driver endures on the world’s larg-est oval track, the Talladega Speedway.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19ANTHONY BRAXTON QUARTER AND FALLING RIVER MUSIC SEPTETWHEN: 7:30 p.m. – 12 a.m.COST: FreeWHERE: 810 2nd AvePHONE: 348.9928LINK: music.ua.eduDESCRIPTION: The 2014 NEA Jazz Master and MacArthur Fellow Anthony Braxton will premiere his Quartet and Falling River Septet as one event of a seven-part concert series showcasing his work. Braxton is a world-class performer, and both groups will be presenting their work as a world premier at the University of Alabama.

GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR DIGITAL CAMERAWHEN: 6 – 9 p.m.COST: $65WHERE: 2200 Rock Quarry DrPHONE: 562.3230LINK: tcpara.orgDESCRIPTION: This class is designed for those who have gotten their first digital camera, or for those who have had one for a while but never felt comfortable shooting in any mode other than the full auto-point and shoot. Students should bring their camera and its manual. Taught by certi-fied instructor Hank Seigel at the Phelps Center.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20FREE CHESS LESSONSWHEN: 5 – 7 p.m.COST: FreeWHERE: 12362 Ebenezer Church Rd, NorthportPHONE: 330.5040LINK: ebenezerchurchministries.comDESCRIPTION: In partnership with Free-dom Chess Academy, Ebenezer Baptist Church is hosting free weekly chess lessons on Fridays in the church Family Life Center. The sessions are for students ages 6-18. Taught by Rose Marie Stutts and James Gunn, students will learn basic to advanced level chess knowledge and techniques

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21CIVIL RIGHTS QUILTS BY YVONNE WELLSWHEN: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.COST: FreeWHERE: 620 Greensboro AvePHONE: 752.8300LINK: cac.tuscarts.orgDESCRIPTION: Yvonne Wells is a self-taught artist and retired physical education teacher, having taught in the Tuscaloosa public schools for most of her adult life. In 1979, during a major renova-tion of her home, she decided to make

her first quilt. Her widely famous quilts are now on display at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center depicting Biblical and Civil Rights themes of the 1950s and 1960s in America. The works will be open to see through Feb 27.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22SCIENCE SUNDAY – WISE MANWHEN: 1:30 – 4 p.m.COST: FreeWHERE: 427 6th AvePHONE: 348.7550LINK: amnh.ua.eduDESCRIPTION: From fire to hunting, writing to computation, and the discovery of agriculture, humans are truly a unique species. Join us as we explore human learning with experts at the Alabama Museum of Natural History in Smith Hall. Free and fun for all ages!

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23HUDSON STRODE LECTURE SERIES: JANELLE JENSTADWHEN: 5 p.m.COST: FreeWHERE: 428 Colonial DrPHONE: 348.5065LINK: english.ua.eduDESCRIPTION: Janelle Jenstad, associ-ate professor in the department of English at the University of Victoria, will present “Building a Digital Gazetteer for Shake-speare’s London” as part of the Hudson Strode Lecture Series. Sit in on the lec-ture at 301 Morgan Hall on the University of Alabama campus.

BILATERAL – M.A. PAINTING EXHIBI-TIONWHEN: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.COST: FreeWHERE: 109 Woods HallPHONE: 348.2783LINK: art.ua.edu/gallery/sggDESCRIPTION: Graduate students Heather Whidden and Josh Whidden present their joint MA exhibition in painting in the Sella-Granata Art Gallery, Woods Hall, Feb. 2 – 23. Heather Whidden and Joshua Whidden are investigating the ab-stract landscapes of memory and experi-ence. Through very different media, they both explore how moments in time can be visually and physically represented.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26UAP AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH BOOK DISPLAYWHEN: All dayCOST: FreeWHERE: 711 Capstone DrPHONE: 348.0506LINK: lib.ua.eduDESCRIPTION: In honor of African American History Month, the University of Alabama Press (UAP) is proud to present a selection of UAP books about African American history and the civil rights movement. Working in collaboration with the University Libraries, the books will be on display inside the Capstone Drive en-trance of Gorgas Library during the month of February.

The third annual Black Warrior Film Festival will take place Feb. 13, 2015,

on The University of Alabama campus and in downtown Tuscaloosa, showcasing student films from across the South-east and award-winning industry professionals. The three-day event is free and open to the public.

Through screenings and workshop events, the festival will celebrate the work of award-winning filmmakers Tom Heller, Ya’Ke Smith and Margaret Brown, as they all share their films and perspectives with the UA com-munity, like last year’s featured filmmaker Ava DuVernay, whose recent film “Selma” has received multiple Golden Globe and Oscar nominations this year.

Tom Heller served as executive producer of the 2014 Oscar-nominated picture “Foxcatcher,” in addition to other critically acclaimed films, such as “127 Hours,” “Precious: Based on the Novel

‘Push’ by Sapphire,” as well as the coming-of-age drama “Mud,” which will be featured at this year’s festival. Heller will per-sonally introduce the film at the finale event at the Bama Theatre, Sunday, Feb. 15, with the screening set to begin at 4 p.m. and an awards ceremony to immediately follow.

The festival will kick off Friday, Feb. 13, at The Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center at 7 p.m. with a spotlight on featured filmmaker Ya’Ke Smith. Smith is an award-winning filmmaker whose films have screened and won awards at more than 80 film festivals worldwide. Smith’s newest short, “dawn.”, will premiere in February on HBO and is one of the selected works he said he will be sharing with festivalgoers.

“The work I’ll present will arrest you with the truth, move you to action and hopefully force you to look at yourself

and the larger world with more complex-ity,” Smith said. “If I leave the university community with nothing else, my goal is to leave them knowing that art not only imitates life, but art birthed from the soul can change lives.”

Students’ work will be showcased in multiple screening blocks throughout Sat-urday, Feb. 14, at The Ferguson Center Theater on the UA campus. Universities represented include Duke University, Florida State University, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, The University of Texas at Austin and The University of Alabama. Categories of accepted films include narrative, documentary, music video and experimental.

Filmmaker Margaret Brown will pres-ent her award-winning documentary “The Great Invisible” at 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, at The Ferguson Center Theater and interact with audience members for a Q&A following the screening. Brown recently won the 2014 SXSW Documentary Com-petition's Grand Jury Prize for her film.

The executive staff of Birmingham’s Sidewalk Film Festival will comprise the fea-ture panel event, taking place Saturday at 11 a.m. in The Ferguson Center. Later in the evening, the festival will present a screen-ing of the indie hit “Juno” at The Ferguson Center Theater, in the spirit of Valentine’s Day. The 2007 Academy Award nominee for Best Picture will begin at 7 p.m.

Each featured filmmaker will host ei-ther a lecture or workshop throughout the festival weekend.

For more information, please visit the website for a complete schedule of these events, which are all open to students and community members alike.

Dr. Rachel Raimist, co-director of Creative Campus and assistant professor in UA’s department of telecommunica-tion and film, said the Black Warrior Film Festival is an opportunity for student filmmakers to connect with people in the industry and make a positive impact on the Tuscaloosa community.

“The festival gives filmmakers from all over the region the opportunity to share their work with an audience and provides the ability for talented students to con-nect with each other,” Raimist said. “Black Warrior brings the Tuscaloosa community a rich and culturally diverse event to at-tend that celebrates the talent of young storytellers and artists.”

For more information and a full sched-ule of events, please visit www.black-warriorfilmfest.com.

Filmmaker Ya’Ke Smith


Fox Theatre660 Peachtree St NE 404.881.2100

The Hangout251.948.3030thehangout1.com

Marathon Music Works 1402 Clinton St615.891.1781

Minglewood Hall1555 Madison Ave901.312.6058

>>> R OA D T R I P D I R E C T O RY Travel the South's best venues. Visit their website for ticket info and more.

Acoustic Café2758 County Hwy 9205.647.3237

Amphitheater at the Wharf23101 Canal Rd251.224.1020

Bridgestone Arena501 Broadway615.770.2000

Centennial Olympic Park265 Park Ave W NW404.223.4412

Montgomery Performing Arts Center201 Tallapoosa St334.481.5100

The Nick2514 10th Ave S205.252.3831

Sloss Furnaces20 32nd St N205.324.1911

Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre2200 Encore Pkwy

404.733.5010

Von Braun Center700 Monroe St SW256.551.2345

WorkPlay500 23rd St S205.380.4082

Zydeco2001 15th Ave S205.933.1032

>>> ROAD TRIP | s o u t H E a s t E R n co n c E R t s a n D E V E n t s

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12BIRMINGHAMThe Werks w/ Higher Learning, Zydeco

ATLANTAJessie J, Center StageShovels and Rope, The Buckhead Theatre

NASHVILLEGuster, Mercy Lounge/Cannery BallroomEchosmith, 3rd and Lindsley Bar and Grill

NEW ORLEANSJune Victory, Gasa GasaKina Grannis, One Eyed Jacks

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13BIRMINGHAMShovels and Rope, Iron City

HUNTSVILLEDebbie Bond & the Trudats with Microwave Dave, the Flying MonkeyJim Parker’s Songwriter Series, Von Braun Concert Hall

MONTGOMERYCirque D’Or, Montgomery Performing Arts Center

ATLANTAGuster, Tabernacle

NASHVILLERick Springfield, Wildhorse SaloonTedeschi Trucks Band, Ryman Auditorium

NEW ORLEANSThe Revivalists, House of BluesHoney Island Swamp Band, Gasa Gasa

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14BIRMINGHAMTrotline, ZydecoGeorge Wallace, BJCC

HUNTSVILLEBrian Regan, Von Braun Concert HallAlabama Ballet, Tom Bevill Lyceum

MONTGOMERYKiller Diller, Garrett Coliseum

ATLANTAWale, TabernacleRusted Root, Variety PlayhouseRave of Thrones, The Masquerade

NASHVILLE

Patti LaBelle, Schermerhorn Symphony CenterShovels and Rope, Ryman Auditorium

NEW ORLEANSBetter Than Ezra, House of BluesGalactic, Tipitina’s

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15BIRMINGHAMKevin Devine, Bottletree Café Ringo Starr, BJCC

ATLANTAPatton Oswalt, TabernacleMali Music, Center StageSilverstein w/ Hands Like Houses, MasqueradeMick Jenkins, The Masquerade

NASHVILLETurbo Fruits, 3rd and Lindsley Bar and Grill

NEW ORLEANSParty Next Door, House of BluesPete Yorn, House of Blues

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16 BIRMINGHAMDark Star Orchestra, Iron City

NASHVILLEThe Time Jumpers, 3rd and Lindsley Bar and Grill

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17NASHVILLELee Dewyze, RocketownKevin Devine, High Watt

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18BIRMINGHAMFlaming Lips, Iron CityBethel Music, The Alabama Theatre

HUNTSVILLERollin’ in the Deep, Straight to Ale Brewery Stage

ATLANTADark Star Orchestra, Variety Playhouse

NASHVILLEBlackberry Smoke, Ryman Auditorium

NEW ORLEANSEchosmith, House of BluesTaking Back Sunday, The Civic Theater

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19 NASHVILLEStyx, Schermerhorn Symphony Center

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20BIRMINGHAMRL Grime, Zydeco

MONTGOMERYMonster X Tour, Garrett ColiseumBlack Jacket Symphony, Montgomery Performing Arts CenterKevin Gates, Liquids

ATLANTAParty Next Door, Center StageJackie Evancho, Symphony Hall AtlantaThe Stanley Clarke Band, Variety Playhouse

NASHVILLECharlie Wilson, Bridgestone Arena

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21BIRMINGHAMKip Moore, Iron CityAdam Hood, Zydeco

ATLANTATinsley Ellis, Variety Playhouse

NASHVILLEJason Aldean w/ Cole Swindell, Bridgestone ArenaJosh Abbott Band, 3rd and Lindsley Bar and Grill

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22BIRMINGHAMCharlie Wilson, BJCCDigiTour, Iron City

ATLANTAPierce the Veil, Tabernacle

NEW ORLEANSHarlem Globetrotters, New Orleans Arena311, House of Blues

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23HUNTSVILLEGordon Lightfoot, Von Braun Concert Hall

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24

MICHAEL THORNTON // MONTGOMERY // DECEMBER 22

HaVE YouR VEnuE anD

EVEnts listED HERE fREE.

plEasE Email

[email protected]

BETTER THAN EZRA // NEW ORLEANS // FEBRUARY 14

GORDON LIGHTFOOT // HUNTSVILLE // FEBRUARY 23

MONTGOMERYMichael Oher, Montgomery Performing Arts Center

NASHVILLELee Brice, Ryman Auditorium

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25NEW ORLEANSA Place to Bury Strangers, Gasa GasaTrailer Park Boys, Tulane University McAlister Auditorium

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26BIRMINGHAMLucero, Iron City

ATLANTASOJA, The MasqueradePunch Brothers, TabernacleFuture Islands, Variety Playhouse

NASHVILLEDavid Sedaris, TPAC-Andrew Johnson Theater

RINGO STARR // BIRMINGHAM // FEBRUARY 15

BLACK JACKET SYMPHONY // MONTGOMERY // FEBRUARY 20

SOJA // ATLANTA // FEBRUARY 26


4th & 23rd //

1831 // 331-4632

Alcove // 469-9110

Bear Trap // 345-2766

Big Al's // 759-9180

The Booth // 764-0557

Buffalo Wild Wings // 523-0273

Capones // 248-0255

Carpe Vino // 366-8444

Catch 22 // 344-9347

Copper Top // 343-6867

Crimson Bar // 764-0185

Downtown Pub // 750-0008

Gallettes // 758-2010

Gnemis Top Shelf Tavern // 343-0020

Gray Lady // 469-9521

Harry's Bar // 331-4151

Houndstooth // 752-8444

Innisfree // 345-1199

Jackie's Lounge // 758-9179

The Legacy // 345-4848

Mellow Mushroom // 758-0112

Mugshots // 391-0572

Rhythm & Brews // 750-2992

Rounders // 345-4848

THURSDAY,FEBRUARY 12Sean Rivers acoustic, RoundersKaraoke, DJ ProtoJ, Rhythm & BrewsSumilan, Green Bar

FRIDAY,FEBRUARY 13Who Shot Lizzy, Crimson BarUri, Rhythm & BrewsSean Rivers Band / DJ Spinzz, RoundersSpaceFace with Young Bufflo, Green Bar

SATURDAY,FEBRUARY 14Johnathan East, Crimson BarStrangled Darlings / Cold Cold Sweats, Green BarNic Snow Band / DJ Spinzz, RoundersJason Miller Band, Rhythm & BrewsURI, The Booth

TUESDAYFEBRUARY 17Plato Jones, Copper TopFat Tuesday party / DJ Spinzz

WEDNESDAYFEBRUARY 18Karaoke with DJ Argo, Rounders

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19The Primitive Talk, Green BarArchnemesis Live, Rounders

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20Stomp Box ANG, Crimson BarCBDB / Little Raine Band, Green BarMatt Bennett Band and DJ Spinnzz, Rounders

SATURDAY,

FEBRUARY 21DJ Spinnzz, Rounders

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22Open Mic, Crimson Bar

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25Karaoke with DJ Spinnzz, Rounders

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26Nic Snow Acoustic, RoundersBaak Gwai, Green BarKaraoke, DJ ProtJ, Rhythm & Brews

AFFORDABLE ADSCONTACT

[email protected]

>>> LO C A L B A R S

>>> LOCAL MUSIC | WHO'S PLAYING AROUND TOWN

HAVE YOUR LOCAL MUSIC EVENT LISTED FREE IN PLANET WEEKLY. JUST EMAIL

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STRANGLED DARLINGS // GREEN BAR // FEBRUARY 14

SEAN RIVERS BAND // ROUNDERS // FEBRUARY 13 BAAK GWAI // GREEN BAR // FEBRUARY 26ARCHNEMESIS // ROUNDERS //

FEBRUARY 19

thePlanetWeekly.com


Across1. Romeo5. Sleep affliction10. Emmy-winner Ward14. Hebrew letter15. Shuffle, briefly16. Reuniongoer, informally17. Solid ground19. Heinz number, to Ovid20. "All That Glitters" author21. Unrivaled at malice23. Cuts with garden shears26. Beam of light27. Activity that ended at midnight32. Prefix with gram or center33. Beforehand34. Papyrus plant38. Doctrines, informally40. Military messes42. Iran monetary unit43. Proscription list45. Remained firm47. "Ha-ha," on-line48. The Clermont51. Country singer Kathy54. Condiment for fries55. Don't run with them58. When some TV newscomes on62. Subject to mildew, perhaps63. "Lighten up!"66. ___ O's (chocolaty cereal)67. ___ Zagora, Bulgaria68. Nutrition amts.69. Spanish muralist JoseMaria ___70. All finished, as dinner71. Encl. with a manuscript

Down1. Sheet of matted cotton or wool2. One taking a gander

3. Full of breezes4. Open up, in a way5. Terrier's cry6. Architect Ieoh Ming ___7. Scandinavian goddess of fate8. Comical Bombeck9. 1992 Wimbledon champ Andre10. "Catcher in the Rye" author11. Young, snakelike fish12. Soprano Tetrazzini13. "Jaws" locale18. One place to hook up the jumper cables22. Casks24. Stroller25. Most achy27. "It's not easy ___ green"28. Lhasa ___: small dog29. Represent in drawing30. Socratic student31. Entrance markers35. Pickle choice36. British pokey37. __ May Clampett39. Area of vulnerability41. Swingin' Sammy44. Brings to court46. Black key49. Founder of Taoism50. Furry frolickers51. Predecessor of Windows52. 'Have a care!' ('Look out!')53. Microwave feature56. Pro ___ (proportionate)57. Three-hand card game59. "Told you I could do it!"60. Those, in Nuevo Laredo61. AMEX's kin64. Stanzaic preposition65. Prefix for millionaire

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

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>>> PUZZLEMANIA| S U D U K O

It's easy to play Sudoku! simply fill every column, row and 3x3 box so they contain every number between 1 and 9. the game is easy to play but difficult to master! Solution Page 21


Your natural charm encourages others to involve you in their plans, and in the case of a love interest, to seek to make you happy as well. this is certainly a great time for an active social life, whether you're eager to expand your network of friends or encourage business acquaintances. career plans take a step ahead as mercury pushes forward from midweek. it's now time to sign contracts, commit to projects, and go ahead with ideas that have been in development.

a sense of responsibility can keep you busy with plans and new ideas, but there's benefit to be gained from a willingness to be of service. news received from friend could put you in a good mood, especially if it concerns a project you're working on together. finally, if you feel an urge to study, don't put it off. By taking a course or class or getting a qualification, you could be doing yourself a big favor further down the line.

today's focus on your social life could stir up lively involvement with new or old acquaintances. though indications are good for relationships overall, try not to overextend yourself, especially if you've been burning the candle at both ends. a focus on shared resources encourages care when applying for credit or loans. Be sure to read the fine print before you sign. You'll also have a chance to deepen emotional bonds and experience greater intimacy with someone you care about.

there's plenty of inspiration out there if you seek creative expression. the pisces focus can be excellent for attending cultural events such as concerts, art exhibitions, or anything else that takes your fancy. if this motivates you to have a go yourself, then so much the better! meanwhile, new people will be coming into your life who can brighten your outlook and open the door to fresh possibilities. perhaps it's time to profit from an exchange of ideas!

You'll be relieved to know that mercury pushes ahead in your personal financial sector, hopefully bringing an end to any delays or misunderstandings you've experienced recently. although it may not be plain sailing straight out of the gate, you'll soon find things begin to bob along nicely. continue to keep receipts, however. Your imaginative mindset can be helpful for coming up with creative ideas with a touch of magic about them. Don't ignore those flights of fancy - they could turn to gold.

if you can't decide what to do next, this might be a signal that you need to retreat from the bustle of daily life and give yourself time to think. the current focus may see you heading off into nature to calm your mind and connect with your deeper feelings. Go easy this week, as rushing won't accomplish anything and might even make matters worse. consider a relationship problem as a chance to clear away unrealistic expectations and get grounded.

frustrations could arise if you feel that others aren't receptive to your views. this week try not to take criticism personally. see what you can learn from the comments and use them as incentive to improve. meanwhile, romance, creative expression, or other interests may leave much to be desired, and it could be due to financial restrictions. persistence in resolving such problems will bring rewards. later, be sure to recharge your batteries by opting for a little fun.

the current pisces focus encourages you to reach for a higher goal, as by doing so the cosmos may grant your wish. You might be motivated to explore workshops or retreats that put you back in touch with your innate spirituality. if it's silence you seek, a short break at a sanctuary or other peaceful resort can help you feel like yourself again. When you emerge you'll be fresh, energized, and ready for the next challenge. meanwhile, determine to stay in control regarding finances.

>>> HOROSCOPES | W E E K L Y O V E R V I E W

Don't beat around the bush where health matters are concerned, particularly if you're baffled by your symptoms. Rather than worry yourself unnecessarily, take practical action by going to see a professional. on another note, it's possible you're thinking of changing jobs yet are uncertain of where to apply. saturn's presence in sagittarius encourages you to research your options and think outside the box. something may turn up that you haven't considered that suits you to a t.

the presence of Venus in pisces on tuesday only adds to your mystique. You may attract attention without doing anything to encourage it. You'll also be a lot more compassionate and sensitive to other people's needs and likelier to spend time listening to their problems and stories. While this is very commendable, you need to be firm with certain people who may try to take advantage. on another note, this is a great time to enhance your image and boost your confidence.

although you're in the driver's seat, you could have difficulty steering activities in the direction you should go. this can be due to a spiritual focus whereby happenings occur out of the blue, disrupting your best-laid plans. for now you might have to go with the flow and see where it takes you. Don't let this keep you from planning ahead. it's great to do so long as you remain flexible. meanwhile, feelings for a special someone may ratchet up this week.

in a fairly laid-back week, the pace quickens as mercury turns direct, which might ease a misunderstanding with a friend. later, however, saturn's presence could encourage you to hold back even if the influence of a friend or partner tempts you to throw caution to the wind. the ability to read between the lines can be helpful if someone's behavior becomes a bit of a mystery. Whatever you do, try not to take anything at face value in the days ahead.

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THE BABYLONIAN BRIDES // WHO FOLLOWED ME ACROSS THE OCEAN

It’s 1998 A.D. I’m dining inside the Tate Gallery

exhibition hall at Royal Holloway Col-lege outside London, surrounded by Victorian paintings of every size and shape. These works depict different levels of society, from the outrageously poor treatment of the disenfranchised, to the pompous privilege of upper crust folk. It’s a visual kaleidoscope of the past world, hardly different from today’s world in so many ways.

The work of art that amazes me most is one by Edwin Long (BABYLONIAN MARRIAGE MARKET) depicting slave brides being auctioned at Marriage Market in ancient Babylon. There are thirteen girls being sold to the highest bidder, arranged in order of beauty. The painting is so large it occludes from view everything else in the gallery. Suddenly, I am inside this work of art, smelling the perfumes and sweat of the auction block, staring back at the one girl who is staring at me, wondering at the testosterone gazes of the men who are trying to purchase these women, trying to guess what the most beauti-ful woman looks like (her back is to the viewer), what the least attractive woman looks like (she covers her face with her hands).

The girls wait barefoot on the tiled floor, resting pensively on animal pelts, awaiting their fate. Some seem hopeful (perhaps being owned by a rich man is a better fate than being battered by an impoverished life), some are frightened, some sad, some dazed.

One man keeps tab of the auction on a red clay cuneiform tablet, a scale nearby, the richest men in the audience

try to see through the gauze clothing, each person is dressed and coiffed according to station and wealth. In the hands of the master painter, you can tell much about everyone in this painting. In the hands of the master painter, there is much mystery that draws you in and makes you only guess at what’s really happening, what led up to this moment, what the next moments will bring.

These daughters and granddaugh-ters, nieces and neighbors, are all beyond my assistance, their journeys are individual and lost to all tracking systems, their existence only remains in memory and imagination.

Now, it is 2010 A.D.I am once again visiting this painting

at the Huntsville Museum of Art. This is the work’s first and only visit outside England in its 135 years of existence. My girls are still there, frozen in time. The auctioneers and attendees are still hoping to sell and purchase their dreams.

I am left to wonder whether this kind of thing is happening all over the world in different but identical ways, whether we as a species will ever stop bartering with the souls and bodies and futures of those unable to fend us off

©2015 by Jim Reed

And it also became clear that these conditions of inequality and historical injustice have given rise to a feeling of hate in the world – a deeply felt hate that cannot eas-ily be overcome with a few good words.

Ulrich Beck, sociologist(1944 - Jan. 2015)

be captivating, and to engage the audi-ence through the movement on stage.

“Movement influences the mind as much as the mind influences movement,” Davis said. “It’s part of the human condi-tion. When people are in a room together they start breathing the same.”

Before rehearsals, Davis has the cast warm up by “radiating” their movements, or sending their energy outward so that the audience can feel it. The idea comes from Russian director Michael Chekhov, a figure Davis has studied extensively and incorporated into his craft.

“The methodology of Michael Chekhov states that all honest human interaction is psycho-physical,” Davis said. “And that in order to present and develop character honestly, we have to consider how our connection to our body helps to inform the decisions we make, and the way that we present ourselves to the world.”

In the small space of the Allen-Bales Theatre, every motion and expression is apparent to the audience, and it makes for a much more intimate type of production. The sounds of water dripping into a buck-ets and kitchen utensils whirring all pierce through the enclosed space. The glowing stage seems to fill up the room.

Though Orpheus and Eurydice are worlds apart, on stage she is just a few feet away.

“I spend a lot of time on top of the platform, because that represents the world of the living,” Nicholson said. “[Or-pheus] doesn’t really understand much of what she’s going through. He’s really in his head.”

As we watch Orpheus pine away over

his heartbreak, we see Eurydice grow closer to her father, and take comfort in the memories they share. You start to see why Eurydice might not want to be brought back to life, Prentice said.

“We all started out with simplistic ideas of our characters, but we’ve found that they’re more complicated than we origi-nally thought,” Prentice said. “The more I read it, the more I realized that the love between Eurydice and Orpheus is more of an infatuation, rosy-eyed glasses thing.”

Audiences might be surprised that no fire and brimstone greets the dead in the play, just a splash of water on the head and long stretches of boredom.

“It’s not like Hell in Christian mythol-ogy where you go there and get tortured,” Prentice said. “You just go there when you die. You still work and everything, it’s not that different from being alive.”

By the end of the play, many people will be sympathizing with Eurydice, mak-ing the final scene all the more tragic.

Prentice says she is looking forward to watching the dress rehearsal when her understudy performs, and that she encourages anyone to come even if they aren’t familiar with the original myth.

“It’s definitely an aesthetic show, and the set makes everything very magical and mysterious,” Prentice said. “If you come for a reason, you’ll definitely find something different.”

Eurydice will be showing Monday Feb 16 through Saturday Feb. 21 at 7:30 p.m., with a final show Feb. 22 at 2 p.m., all at Allen-Bales Theatre. Tickets are avail-able at ua.tix.com, and theater-goers are encouraged to purchase in advance.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5


ALABAMA TURNS ATTENTION TO 2016 // CRIMSON TIDE SIGNED TOP CLASS IN 2015

>>> H I G H T I D E | GARY HARRIS / WVUA SPORTS DIRECTOR

The ink isn't dry yet on letters of intent that were signed in 2015, but already

Alabama is working to secure another top class in 2016. The Crimson Tide has three commitments for next year’s class and don't be surprised if there are several more commitments in the next few weeks. We are going to spotlight a couple of play-ers that Alabama is high on for 2016.

DERRICK BROWNElite 2016 DL makes his

fourth visit to Tuscaloosa

Quite possibly the best prospect on campus for Alabama's Junior Day was 2016 defensive tackle Derrick Brown of Sugar Hill-Lanier, GA. The 6-4, 294-pound Brown already has offers from many of the nation's top programs, including Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Nebraska, Stanford, Tennessee, Texas and USC, among others.

"It was like my fourth trip to Ala-bama," Brown says. "I like it. I love the campus and the atmosphere there. It's a quiet place. I like that. I just like everything about it. It's a nice place. They have great facilities. Everything is good."

Brown says that one of the high-lights of Junior Day was spending time with Coach Saban and DL coach Bo Davis.

"They just really talked mostly about

the program, what they offer and how they do things. That was basically it," Brown says. "Coach Davis is a good guy. We talked a lot. He's a real nice person. He jokes around with you, but you can tell when it's time to get serious, he's serious.

"I know he's a good coach. He's devel-oped a lot of good defensive linemen. We sat down and talked about what it takes to be a d-lineman at Alabama and what he expects out of his players.

"Coach Saban is a nice guy, too. We just talked about the normal stuff. Nothing

really out of the ordinary. He told me he was glad I was there. He's easy to talk with. He's really a straightforward guy. He doesn't just say things to say them. He tells you like it is. I like that about him. He tells you exactly how it is."

Brown says that it's early to start naming favorites, but Alabama is a school that he's interested in.

"I'm going to continue visiting schools," he says. "I will be going back to Alabama again. I like it over there. They'll be one of the schools I'll seriously consider."

A.J. BROWNTop 2016 WR visits for Junior Day

Junior wide receiver A.J. Brown of Starkville, MS is already drawing com-parisons to Julio Jones. Starkville head Jaime Mitchell has heard the comparison

from those who know what they're talking about.

"Coach Bo Davis and Coach Billy Napier from Alabama were here a few days ago and that's who they said that A.J reminds them of." Mitchell says. "It's really kind of scary."

Brown earned 6A All-State honors last season when he caught 52 passes for 1,019 yards and 16 touchdowns.

"He's got NFL skills right now," Mitchell says. "He's such a big, strong, physical receiver."

Brown was in Tuscaloosa recently for the Tide's Junior Day event. He measured 6-2, 215 pounds.

Back during the season the UA staff mentioned an offer to Brown. The official news came on Junior Day from Coach Saban.

"We had a nice conversation," Brown says. "It was a typical conversation. He was just telling me about the program and how they do things there. He told me they were officially offering. That was good.

"I really like the program. It's a nice place—the facilities and the weightroom, the whole place. I can't wait to get back over there. I'm really looking forward to going back later on."

Even though it's very early, it appears that Brown already favors Alabama and Ole Miss. The Tide might have an early lead.

"One of the things I liked most was getting a chance to talk with some of the players, like Kenyan Drake

and Derrick Henry," Brown says. "They talked with us about the recruiting process and how they handled it and how they dealt with some of the challenges they faced once they got to college. That was good to hear.

"Kenyan Drake talked about his injury and how difficult it was at first. But he said the training staff and the medical staff did a great job of taking care of him."

"It was a nice visit," Brown says. "A real nice visit. I learned a lot."

"Coach Saban is a nice guy, too. He's easy to talk with. He's really a straightforward guy. He doesn't just say things to say them. He tells you like it is. I like that about him. He tells you exactly how it is."

~ Derrick Brown ~


Meghan Steel

Michael Brannon, aka Michal B Reddy

Planet Weekly 478

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