TOP THREE:
Photo with Santa at Bass Pro Shops
EVENT:
Family Fun Workshop at Carnegie
A News and Tribune Publication
DECEMBER 22, 2016 — Issue 143
STONE COLD FLOW Jeffersonville's Frost Vegas heats up Southern Indiana music scene
2 | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016 | SOIN follow us on
EDITOR
Jason Thomas
DESIGN
Claire White
STORY
Daniel Suddeath
PHOTOGRAPHY Tyler Stewart
WHERE TO FIND SOIN:
• ON RACKS: We offer free copies of SoIn at numerous hotels and restaurants around Clark and Floyd counties. • IN YOUR PAPER: Every Thursday in the News and Tribune • ONLINE: newsandtribune.com /soin • ON FACEBOOK: facebook.com/YourSoInWeekly • ON TWITTER: @newsandtribune
ON THE COVER:
Frost Vegas, aka Paul Bennett Jr., Jeffersonville, released his latest mixtape, “Overflowin’ Vol. 1,” which can be downloaded on iTunes and Spinrilla. | STAFF PHOTO BY TYLER STEWART
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Chill out with a Southern Indiana original
T
oday’s SoIn might get you out of your Bennett Jr. is unapologetically Southern cultural comfort zone. Indiana. Not L.A. Not New York. Or Chicago. And that’s a good thing. To see a 25-year-old baring his Midwestern soul in a ruthless, image-driven industry should make Introducing rapper/producer Frost Vegas, aka all of us proud. Paul Bennett Jr. The New Albany native and JefAveraging more than 30,000 monthly listenfersonville transplant is putting in the hard work ers on Spotify, Bennett Jr. has broken into the required to make it in the music industry. industry as an independent artist with a passion He’s making waves while fully embracing JASON THOMAS for mastering all facets of music production, his Southern Indiana roots — not an easy sell in SoIn Editor Suddeath notes. “flyover country.” Nobody was taking Bennett Jr. seriously when Bennett Jr. is making all the right moves. He he released his first mix tape. teamed up with rising star and Louisville native Bryson Some Southern Indiana moxie has certainly changed Tiller who has over the past two years released multiple hit that tune. songs, and who was named Best New Artist and Best Male “If people are going to know Frost Vegas, they’re going R&B/Pop Artist at the 2016 BET Awards. to know Southern Indiana,” Bennett Jr. told Suddeath. Bennett Jr. and Tiller recorded a song titled “One Time,” Our ears are wide open. which has received more than one million plays on Soundcloud and over 500,000 on Spotify, Daniel Suddeath writes — Jason Thomas is the editor of SoIn. He can be reached by in today’s cover story. phone at 812-206-2127 or email at jason.thomas@newsandtribune.com. Follow him on Twitter: @ScoopThomas. Take that West Coast. East Coast, too.
SoIn bids fond farewell with top cover stories of all time
Extending a holiday Olive Leaf SOIN THE KNOW
• WHAT: Olive Leaf Bistro holiday specials
• WHERE: Olive Leaf Bistro, 130
E. Riverside Drive, Jeffersonville
• INFO: Call 812-913-1252
JEFFERSONVILLE — Riverfront restaurant Olive Leaf Bistro has announced a holiday group tour special menu, and is accepting reservations for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. The restaurant, 130 E. Riverside Drive, Jeffersonville, which specializes in European and Mediterranean flair, has created a special menu to accommodate group tours. Diners can choose from three appetizers: Three Hummus, Bruschetta or Mediterranean Greek Salad; three entrees: Tortellini all Michelangelo, Mahi Mahi or Chicken Kabob; and three desserts: Creme brulee (owner Jimmy Shraby’s specialty), Baklava
Owner Jimmy Shraby and Jeffersonville Mayor Mike Moore shake hands after cutting the ribbon for Olive Leaf Bistro’s grand opening on Riverside Drive in downtown Jeffersonville. | FILE PHOTO or Cannoli. Cost is $30/person with a minimum of 15 in a group. The cost excludes Christmas Eve and New Year’s. Olive Leaf’s private dining room is perfect for entertaining, as it is located off the restaurant’s lounge
for a completely private experience, an Olive Leaf news release stated. Naturally lit through a series of windows facing downtown Louisville, its private dining area is a refined setting to enjoy its exquisite Mediterranean cuisine, according to the news release.
SOIN | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016
1
3 TO GO
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Where to go and be seen in Southern Indiana
JOLLY SNAPSHOT • WHAT: Free Santa photo • WHEN: Friday, Dec. 23: 10 a.m. to 8
p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 24: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• WHERE: Bass Pro Shops, 951 E. Lewis
and Clark Parkway Haven’t gotten your free photo with Santa yet? Head to Bass Pro Shops today through Christmas Eve to meet Santa, get a free 4x6 photo and enjoy fun holiday activities. Other activities include an activity center for kids to play games and test out fun new toys of the season; a big dig excavation area where kids can try out a new rideon digger; Lincoln Logs building area where kids can build their own holiday village.
2
MOON THE HOLIDAYS • WHAT: Full Moon Hike • WHEN: 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 23 • WHERE: Charlestown State Park, 12500 Ind. 62,
Charlestown. Hike under the full moon and stars, and enjoy the great outdoors at night along Trail 6 during Charlestown State Park’s Full Moon Hike on Friday, Dec. 23. Wear good hiking shoes and comfortable clothing, and bring a red lens flashlight and walking stick. With scenic vistas of the Fourteenmile Creek valley and the Ohio River, Charlestown has much to offer the visitor with its rugged hills and deep ravines.
3
TIME IN A BOTTLE • WHAT: Create your own time capsule • WHEN: 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 29 • WHERE: New Albany-Floyd County Public Library, 180 W. Spring St., New Albany
• INFO: To register, call 812-949-3527
Guests will learn what type of container to pick, what types of materials to put in, and how best to preserve items for encapsulation. Participants are welcome to bring some of their own items if they have questions on how best to preserve them. Library staff will provide detailed instructions on what to purchase in order to have a successful time capsule and how to put it together. Registration is required.
GOTTA GO: Interested in seeing your event in our 3 To Go? Email SoIn Editor Jason Thomas at jason.thomas@newsandtribune.com
Artsy kind of a deadline INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Arts Commission (IAC) announced that a “letter of intent to apply” is required for all organizations desiring to apply for Fiscal Year 2018 Arts Organization Support (AOS I, II, III) grant funding. Organizations must complete a notice of intent to apply form by 4:30 p.m. Jan. 18. The letter of intent to apply can be accessed through the IAC’s new online grant system found at: http://tinyurl.com/iacgrantsystem. Those new to the system will need to create a profile, select the program to which they would like to apply and select “apply” to access the letter of intent. The letter of intent form reflects revised eligibility guidelines for arts organization support grants which require organizations to provide yearround arts activities and arts as their core mission, purpose, and focus of the applicant organization. Changes in the grant guidelines impact Arts Organization Support (AOS) I, II, and III for Fiscal Year 2018 (July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018). “The refined eligibility
SOIN THE KNOW
• WHAT: Indiana Arts Commission grants
• WHEN: Deadline is Jan. 18 • INFO: http://tinyurl.com/ iacgrantsystem
guidelines for Arts Organization Support grants will sharpen the focus of IAC operating support for organizations which are primarily arts organizations at their core, and thereby produce pervasive public arts benefit on a consistent and continuous basis,” said Lewis C. Ricci, IAC executive director. Examples of qualifying organizations would be arts producing, arts promoting, arts presenting, artists services, or arts teaching organizations. The organizations must be a private, nonprofit, tax-exempt status 501(c)(3) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). To locate guidelines for these grant programs, access the IAC website at www.in.gov/arts. The Indiana Arts Commission is dedicated to the vision of the arts everywhere, every day, for everyone in Indiana.
OverfLowi
with homegrown talen
Frost Vegas, aka Paul Bennett Jr., makes mark with music BY DANIEL SUDDEATH dsuddeath@glasgowdailytimes.com
J
EFFERSONVILLE — While it may be normal for Southern Indiana musicians to gravitate toward the Louisville music scene, one local rapper and producer is proud to call the other side of the Ohio River home. Frost Vegas, whose real name is Paul Bennett Jr., is a New Albany native who eventually moved to Jeffersonville where he still resides. His latest mixtape, “Overflowin’ Vol. 1,” was released earlier this year and has been garnering the 25-yearold attention from around the nation. Averaging more than 30,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, Frost Vegas has broken into the industry as an independent artist with a passion for mastering all facets of music production. It spawned from his father, local musician Paul Bennett, who is a well-known bass player in the area. He inspired Frost Vegas to learn to play electric guitar at an early age, and eventually Bennett Jr. played guitar in the band at his grandmother’s church. His love for music never faded, but Bennett Jr. had other aspirations growing up in Southern Indiana including becoming a basketball star. Though Bennett Jr. had skills on the court, he decided to focus on music. “I had a love for basketball, but after high school, I realized not everybody gets to go to the NBA,” he said. And the results so far have proven Frost
DISCOVER SOME RHYMES
• Find Frost Vegas on the web at www.overflowin.com. “Overflowin’ Vol. 1” can be downloaded on iTunes and Spinrilla.
Vegas made the right choice. His first mixtape was more of an experimental production that he created using audio equipment in a college classroom where his father had enrolled to take some music classes. Though the first tape didn’t exactly make Bennett Jr. rich, word of his talents spread in Southern Indiana as well as Louisville. “But nobody was really taking me seriously at all,” he said. Bennett Jr. set up production at his home and kept recording. He released a second mixed tape and kept working on perfecting his craft. After the release of a second mixtape,
SEE OVERFLOWIN’, PAGE 8
TOP, BOTTOM AND RIGHT: Frost Vegas, aka Paul Bennett Jr., Jeffersonville, released his latest mixtape, “Overflowin’ Vol. 1,” which can be downloaded on iTunes and Spinrilla. | STAFF PHOTOS BY TYLER STEWART
in’
nt
6 | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016 | SoIn
ENTERTAINMENT
MCCN NEELY EELY M STEPHENSON TEPHENSON SATTORNEYS AT LAW
MOVIES: DEC. 21
é “Passengers”
This week's entertainment releases
T.V. PREMIERES: DEC. 22 “Project Runway Junior” (Lifetime) DEC. 23 é “Trollhunters” (Netflix)
BOOKS: DEC. 27 é “The Midnight Bell” by Jack Higgins “Curtain of Death” by W.E.B. Griffin, William E. Butterworth
M N M N S M N TEPHENSON SM Practicing Inour Indiana and Kentucky STEPHENSON Visit new website at C N EELY ATTORNEYS AT LAW ATTORNEYS AT LAW made of paper plates A Full-Service Law Firm newalbanylaw.com Puppets Visit our new website at STEPHENSON “Assassin’s Creed” “Sing”
C AT EELY ATTORNEYS LAW A Full-Service Law Firm TEPHENSON C A EELY C EELY Full-Service Law Firm Practicing In Indiana and Kentucky ATTORNEYS AT LAW
SOIN THE KNOW newalbanylaw.com Practicing In Indiana and Kentucky ATTORNEYS AT LAW 318 Pearl Suite 200 ll-Service LawStreet, • WHAT: Family Fun Workshop AFirm Full-Service Law Firm • WHEN: 10 a.m. to noon, SaturNew Albany, IN 47150 M C Nour EELY day, Jan. 14 318 Pearl Street, Suite 200 In Indiana and Kentucky Practicing In Indiana and Kentucky Visit new website at • WHERE: Carnegie Center for ull-Service Law Firm | 800.575.5711 812.725.8224 Art and History, 201 E. Spring TEPHENSON Snewalbanylaw.com New Albany, IN 47150 St., New Albany • INFO: carnegiecenter.org t In ourIndiana newATTORNEYS website at our and812.725.8224 Kentucky ATnew LAW website at 800.575.5711 | Visit
walbanylaw.com newalbanylaw.com 318website Pearl Street, Suite 200 Full-Service Law Firm it ourA new at New Albany, 47150 racticing In Indiana andIN Kentucky walbanylaw.com earl Street, Suite 318200 Pearl Street, Suite 200
The Carnegie Center for Art and History has an ideal way for families to chase away the winter grayness. The free Family Fun Workshops start up again for the New Year on Saturday, Jan. 14 from 10 a.m. to noon with the latest in-house creative project. Join Kyle DeJute and Alyson Thiel as they teach and lead the public in their latest all supplies provided activity. Using paper plates, crazycolored tube socks, glitter, and assorted art materials, adults and your children can make “Muppety Paper Plate Puppets.” These expressive hand puppets can be used to create colorful characters that are perfect for the home theatrical performance.
|Albany, 800.575.5711 812.725.8224 w Albany, IN Visit our47150 newNew website Pearl Street, Suite 200 at IN 47150 newalbanylaw.com | 812.725.8224 5.5711 | 812.725.8224 w Albany, IN800.575.5711 47150 318 Pearl Street, Suite 200 | 812.725.8224 5.5711 New Albany, IN 47150 800.575.5711 | 812.725.8224
Each paper plate puppet may start out essentially the same, but what you add to this project will make it your own and give your creation character. The large heads and mouths of these hand puppets coupled with their potential for wonderfully floppy embellishments make them “muppet-like.” This activity encourages individual expression and creativity through the act of making the puppet and creating a personality and voice to match. After making a puppet, be sure to check out our “Houndmouth: From the Hills to the Limelight” exhibition which ends on Jan. 21.
Registration is appreciated and can be done by contacting Delesha Thomas either by email, dthomas@ carnegiecenter.org or by phone at 812-944-7336. All children must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian. Please arrive by 11:30 a.m. to have enough time to complete this project. The Carnegie Center also features the permanent local history exhibits “Ordinary People, Extraordinary Courage: Men and Women of the Underground Railroad” and “Remembered: the Life of Lucy Higgs Nichols.”
SoIn | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016
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LOCAL SOIN HAPPENINGS Feeling left out? Send your establishment’s and/or organization’s upcoming events/new features/entertainment information to SoIn Editor Jason Thomas at jason.thomas@ newsandtribune.com
LIVE MUSIC AT WICK’S
• WHAT: Live on State • WHERE: Wick’s, 225 State St., New Albany
Friday, Dec. 23: Ugly Sweater Party with Juice Box Heroes; Saturday, Dec. 24: DJ Dance Party with DJ Mpose; Friday, Dec. 30: Wicked Fridays featuring DJ Mpose; Saturday, Dec. 31: Rachel Timberlake
JAM ON AT THE LEGION
• WHAT: Entertainment at the American Legion • WHERE: Bonnie Sloan American Legion, 1930 McDonald
Lane, New Albany Every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 7:15 to 10:15 p.m., Bingo
CORYDON LIVE
• WHAT: Live country music • WHEN: Shows start at 7:30 p.m. • WHERE: 220 Hurst Lane, Corydon • INFO: Admission, adults $12; children 6-12, $7; under 6,
free. For tickets call 812-734-6288. Saturday, Dec. 24: Closed; Saturday, Dec. 31: New Year’s Eve Celebration: Ricky Puckett, Tiffany Puckett and David Graves
PEN TO PAPER
• WHAT: Creative Writing Contest • WHEN: Deadline is Friday, Dec. 30
The Jeffersonville Parks and Recreation Department is seeking young writers for the 2016 Christmas Creative Writing Contest. Winners will receive a 2017 season pass to the Jeffersonville Aquatic Center. Contest Details: There will be one winner from each division, three winners total: Kindergarten through second grade, third through fifth grade, and sixth through eighth. To enter the contest, write 100 to 500 words describing Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer’s cousin that likes to sing and dance. Be creative. There is no entry fee to enter the contest. Limit one entry per person. The deadline for the essay contest is Friday, Dec. 30. Entries will be accepted by U.S. mail or by hand delivery. Mail to: Jeffersonville Parks and Recreation Department Essay Contest, 500 Quartermaster Ct. Suite 212, Jeffersonville, IN 47130. Hand deliver to Parks Office located on the second floor of City Hall. All entries must include the author’s name, address, phone number, current grade, school name and teacher’s name. Entries will not be returned. Entries will be judged anonymously based on the following criteria: originality and creativity. For more information contact the Jeffersonville Parks and Recreation at 823-285-6440.
WRITE NOW!
• WHAT: Write Now! writing group • WHERE: New Albany-Floyd County Public Library, 180 W. Spring St., New Albany
The library introduces a new writing group, after identifying an interest in this type of group in the community. Write Now! Southern Indiana Writers’ Group is designed to be a welcoming and instructive environment for individuals seeking to improve their writing. Through collaborative meetings, writers will strengthen their craft, gaining useful insights from other members. The library will host and moderate monthly meetings for the group on the third Thursday of each month. The first meeting of Write Now! will take place 6:30 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 19, in the Gallery Meeting Room, located in the lower level of the library across from the elevator. Group members are welcome to bring writing samples to the first meeting. Write Now! Southern Indiana Writers’ Group is open to interested adults in the surrounding Southern Indiana and metro Louisville area. The purpose of Write Now! is to provide a positive and productive atmosphere for developing novice writers through writing, reading, and critiquing each other’s work. Please visit http:// nafclibrary.org/write-now/ for updates and information on Write Now! Southern Indiana Writers’ Group and contact staff member Greg Rothenberger at grothenberger@nafclibrary.org or 812-949-3523 to become a member. Membership guidelines and group procedures will be emailed separately.
JOYFUL
HOLIDAY SEASON
GET YOUR MANNA HERE
• WHAT: Fish frys • WHEN: Begin Jan. 6 • WHERE: American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 42, 4530 Paoli Pike, Floyds Knobs
• INFO: Questions about any of the Auxiliary programs may
be directed to President Monica Everage at 812-967-1387 or membership chair Shirley Ohta, 812-923-9863. The annual Friday night fish frys begin Jan. 6 and continue through Good Friday, featuring Icelandic Cod, hand breaded and fried fresh for each customer. Friday night dinners will start at 5 p.m. and end at 7 p.m., and are either eat-in or take-out. Also on the menu will be fantail shrimp, popcorn shrimp, pan-fried oysters and chicken tenders, along with sides of baked potato, macaroni and cheese, hush puppies, French fries, onion rings and slaw. Friday Fish Fry is sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 42, to support their annual programs which include sending high school juniors to Hoosier Girls State; support for Floyd Central JROTC; furniture and household goods for homeless veterans transitioning into housing; supporting two residents at Indiana Veterans Home in West Lafayette; support for Robley Rex VA Hospital, Louisville; as well as Veterans’ Court, Operation Comfort Warriors, Hosparus, Crusade for Children, Auxiliary Emergency Fund, Children’s Legacy Foundation, just to name a few. Auxiliary members extend an invitation to all local women to consider membership in the American Legion Auxiliary which is open to mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, granddaughters, great-granddaughters and grandmothers of members of The American Legion or of a deceased veteran. Their mission focus is service to veterans, active duty military and their families, and service to community, children and youth.
All signs point to a great year, and we have customers like you to thank for it! We greatly appreciate your support and we look forward to your continued friendship.
We wish you and yours all the best this holiday!
www.newsandtribune.com
8 | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016 | SOIN
OVERFLOWIN': Songs include 'Salt,' 'Splash,' 'Soho OG' CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 Frost Vegas would connect with Louisville native Bryson Tiller, who has over the past two years released multiple hit songs including “Don’t,” “Exchange” and “Sorry Not Sorry,” and who was named Best New Artist and Best Male R&B/Pop Artist at the 2016 BET Awards. Frost Vegas and Tiller recorded a song titled “One Time,” which has received more than one million plays on Soundcloud and over 500,000 on Spotify. “We linked up right before he popped off. He was a fan of what I was doing and I was a fan of what he was doing, so we linked up for a few tracks on my EP,” Frost Vegas said. The EP is titled “Serenity,” and it features 15 tracks including “One Time,” “Type of Way” and “Pro.” With more attention turning to Frost Vegas,
he continued to work, and to create music that is relatable. “It’s basically my life experiences and my mind experiences that people wouldn’t really expect — what I’ve gone through. What I dabble with,” he said, adding that he wants to create the kind of music that takes people somewhere mentally. “Overflowin’ Vol. 1” features a variety of talent in both production and rapping. Frost Vegas produced multiple songs on the mix tape, including the song “Splash” which has received play on some local radio stations and includes a music video that can be found on YouTube. “Overflowin’ Vol. 1” also includes singles “Salt” and “Soho OG,” and can be downloaded on iTunes and Spinrilla. Before he released the mixtape, Frost Vegas spent time in Los Angeles learning more about
TOP AND LEFT: Frost Vegas, aka Paul Bennett Jr., Jeffersonville, released his latest mixtape, “Overflowin’ Vol. 1." Frost Vegas said his music name spawns from his childhood nickname "Frosty." | STAFF PHOTOS BY TYLER STEWART
the industry. His music name spawns from his childhood nickname, Frosty, which has stuck with him through the years. Frost Vegas said he’s in the early stages of planning a live show in the area, but doesn’t have a plan for signing with a label anytime soon. With modern technology, the need to sign with a recording company isn’t as pressing as it once was, Frost Vegas said. “Since I see kind of how the direction the
music industry is going, I’m not really that excited to sign with a label as I would have been say two years ago,” he said. Regardless of where his next move takes him, Frost Vegas said he will never forget about his home and the talent that exists locally. “If people are going to know Frost Vegas, they’re going to know Southern Indiana,” he said. “And I don’t mean Louisville, I mean Southern Indiana.”