Downtown Crowd, March 2022

MAR. ‘22

BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE

STREETS OPEN FOR THE RETURN OF CICLOVIA

WITH WWE STARS NAOMI + JIMMY USO

E H T G IN G IN R B

R E D N U TH Also in this Issue:

MILITARY MATTERS

an Armed Forces News Section

L A IV T S E F IC S U M M D E S T A E B R E THUND 4 -2 2 2 IL R P A A L O C A S N E P IN LANDS

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Editor’s Letter

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Morgan Cole, Editor

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CONTENTS

March brings us the first day of spring… the moment we’ve all been waiting for. Seriously, I’m ready for some sunshine, warmth and all of the fun that comes along with it. We’ve all been pretty excited to see events picking back up again and are ready for even more.

From the highly-anticipated return of Ciclovia and Pensacola VegFest to a new three-day music festival that’s set to debut in Pensacola next month, our wonderful city is bustling with exciting festivities and events. So, to be sure that you don’t miss out on any of the fun, we’ve brought you details on some of our favorite new and returning springtime happenings.

For this month’s “5 Questions with Creatives,” we featured local stained glass artist Lauren Dodds and her colorful threedimensional glass creations.

She has truly taken this ancient craft to the next level with her own modern twist, and the results are nothing short of stunning. Be sure to check it out on page five. We’ve also brought you the scoop on the upcoming WWE Road to Wrestlemania event coming to the Pensacola Bay Center, along with an exclusive Q&A with local WWE power couple Naomi & Jimmy Uso. Another exciting event that will debut right here in Pensacola this spring is the Thunder Beats Music Festival. The three-day

EDM festival is set to land at the Pensacola Fairgrounds April 22–24 and features some of the biggest names in the industry.

With headliners like Deadmau5 and Marshmello, it’s definitely one of the biggest music festivals our region has ever seen! We had a chance to catch up with the festival organizers to bring you the inside scoop on all of the talent and everything that’s in store for the inaugural event.

I must say, I’m highly impressed with the lineup and all of the planning that’s gone into putting on an event of this magnitude in Pensacola. Bravo to the guys over at Thunder Ranch Entertainment for all of their hard work and for finally bringing a music festival back to Pensacola!

And, if that isn’t enough to keep you entertained, we’ve also brought you the latest on the return of Ciclovia and the upcoming Pensacola VegFest.

So, get out and enjoy this beautiful weather for one or all of these fun springtime festivities happening throughout the city!

As always, I hope you enjoy reading and until next time, Cheers!

6

8

11

18

14 6 5 Questions with Creatives 8 Bringing Down the House with Local WWE Power Couple Naomi & Jimmy Uso 11 Kale Yeah! VegFest Returns to Pensacola 14 Bringing the Thunder: Thunder Beats EDM Music Festival Lands in Pensacola

18 Streets Open for the Return of Ciclovía 20 March Events Calendar 22 Military Matters

ON THE COVER - Design

by Guy Stevens

DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 5

5 QUESTIONS WITH

CREATIVES L AUR EN D O D D S

BY MORGAN COLE

Though the words “stained glass art” may trigger thoughts of medieval cathedral windows, today’s artists are proving that the thousand-year-old craft is anything but outdated. With handmade touches of color returning to interior design, stained glass is gracing windows, furniture and accessories again, but with some modern twists. Today, contemporary artists are embracing the technicolor style of this timeless medium, setting trends in both art and architecture.

Inspired by the stained glass of the Middle Ages, contemporary artists like Lauren Dodds are putting their own modern twist on the craft—none of which resemble the overly elaborate creations of the past. From colorful sun catchers to trendy air plant holders, her creative three-dimensional designs will inspire you to reimagine how you let the light in. Check out Dodds’ work on Instagram at @PrettyPaneful.

How long have you been producing stained glass art and how did you first become interested in the medium?

I have been working with stained glass on and off for a while now.

When I first started dipping my hands into the craft around 2013, I didn’t have the money or space to 6 | DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM

really dedicate myself to it, so it was definitely just a hobby at that time.

Since then, I’ve slowly built up my supply of glass by buying from local crafters who had excess or leftover glass available, online or from locals selling it in estate sales or online ads. Once I moved out of an apart-

ment and into a house, I was able to have the space I needed. Most of the pieces I did were commissions or for local events.

How would you describe the style of your work?

Most of the pieces I make are classified as ‘sun catchers’ or ‘functional art.’ Many different styles can be made with stained glass and I don’t stick to just one. I dabble in geometric, art deco and abstract, but mainly stick to iconography and single subjects.

When creating stained-glass, there are a few different methods or techniques to choose from. The one I use is called the “copper foil method.” Most stained glass, like you see in churches, use a method called “lead came” to combine the different pieces of glass and then solder the joints, whereas using the copper foil, you have to solder the entirety of the piece.

Can you tell me a little bit about your creative process and what all goes into producing one of your pieces?

Creating one piece involves multiple techniques and processes. Typically, one of the first things I do is make a pattern (if I don’t already have one made of the specific subject). When making custom

designs whether it’s a pet portrait or any other subject matter, I first send pictures of the pattern to the client for their approval. Then, I trace the pattern and cut the glass using the tracing I’ve created. Sometimes, I retrace the pattern onto the cut-out pieces of glass since the next step is in the process is grinding. I use a glass grinder with a diamond bit on a motor shaft that spins while the water underneath keeps the glass cool. Once pieces of glass have been ground and cleaned up, I move on to wrapping the pieces in copper foil, which is one of the most time-consuming parts of the process. The foil sheet must be evenly placed onto the glass or the foil may show through the other side (this is often more difficult than it sounds). After the foiling is complete, I assemble the individual pieces by soldering them together. You can choose to use a patina on the solder to change its color, but other than that it’s just cleaning and buffing it from there.

When did you first launch your business, PrettyPaneful? (LOVE the name by the way!)

I first decided on a name in 2017.

I started getting commissions through people I worked with.

I eventually created a Facebook page and started to really get traction that way.

I enjoy wordplay and puns, so I wanted something catchy that really stood out. The craft can be a bit painful considering getting cut or burned so combining that with ‘pane’

from the word “windowpane” just seemed fitting. Running my own business and being able to share my art to the world are things I have always wanted to achieve. It’s been a slow process taking time due to health issues and life in general. I’ve always crafted and sold my work, just never went to the extent of making a business till I delved into stained glass. I guess it was what gave me the traction and put me on the map so to speak.

Tell me a little bit about the different types of pieces you create?

Some of my favorite pieces to make are the gemstones and moon lotuses. I’ve always been a fan of precious stones, rocks and minerals. When I started buying different types of glass varieties, especially the iridescent, this became a fun one to make. Just like with the gemstones, the moon lotus fits into the whole spiritual theme that’s popular right now. I used to make the lotus on its own but decided to add the moon to the design within the past year and it made it even more popular. Both are very basic and slightly simplistic in design, but they catch quite a bit of attention in my booths.

The air planters were pieces that I started making early on. My first concept for was very simple and boxy. As I became more confident in making 3D pieces, my designs got more intricate. I decided to do these because air plants seem to be quite popular.

Comfort, Curated

Bo o k To d ay

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Bringing down the house with wwe superstar power couple naomi + jimmy uso

I

N THE PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING WORLD, no couple is quite as infamous as husband and wife, Jimmy Uso and Naomi—a.k.a. Jonathan and Trinity Fatu when they’re outside of the ring. The World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) superstars met in training in Tampa shortly after signing with WWE and moved to Pensacola together, where they currently reside. Jimmy, alongside his twin brother Jey—better known as The Usos— are seven-time tag team champions and recently broke their own record of being the longest-reigning SmackDown Tag Team Champions.

Naomi is a two-time WWE SmackDown Women's Champion and the first to win the Women’s Battle Royal at WrestleMania 34. When Jimmy and Naomi aren’t busy being a power couple and traveling the globe together wrestling, they enjoy spending time at home with family, pampering their two dogs, lounging on Pensacola Beach and exploring food trucks downtown.

Downtown Crowd caught up with them ahead of their hometown show, WWE Road to WrestleMania, held at the Pensacola Bay Center on March 13 at 7 pm.

Tickets to the live show are available online at ticketmaster.com.

The two of you have been married since 2014. Tell me about how you met.

Jimmy: I got signed [with WWE] in July 2009 and Trinity got signed in August. We went through developmental together, where they teach you how to fall properly, how to not hurt yourself and how to not hurt anyone else.

From there you get a character and move up to the big leagues. I knew Trinity 8 | DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM

was a keeper right out of the gate. She was jumping off ropes and doing all these athletic stunts and abilities that half the guys couldn’t even do. It’s a funny story actually. I introduced myself to her because I heard that her favorite wrestler growing up was my dad, Rikishi, and she didn’t know I was his son. I made a fool of myself trying to small talk.

What is it like working in the same industry together? Do you get to train together, and do you ever get sick of constantly being with each other?

Naomi: All of the above.

It is a very grueling schedule. Before the pandemic, we were traveling on the road 300 days out of the year. But it is very comforting for me and really helps having him on the road with me.

Photo by Michael Letterlough, Jr.

By Dakota Parks

Naomi, you had a successful career as a dancer and cheerleader before you signed with WWE. What was that transition like to professional wrestling?

Naomi: I was cheerleading for Orlando Magic at the time, and one of the girls on the team told me about the wrestling opportunity. I thought it sounded cool and sort of did it on a total whim. I drove to Tampa for a trial and they offered me a contract. I left home, stopped cheerleading, stopped dancing and moved to Tampa.

My mom thought I was crazy. It just looked fun to me at first, and it totally changed my life.

But on the same token, we're literally together 24/7. We work together, we travel together, we eat together, we live together, we train together and we just don't ever really have that time to miss each other.

You mentioned the pandemic slowed down your schedule.

What were the early shutdowns like for you both?

Jimmy: We went from performing in front of 8,000-10,000 people weekly and on live television to one arena with no energy in there, because there's no fans. We feed off the fans in the WWE Universe. At that time all sports had stopped— the NBA, NFL and MLB, but we kept wrestling each week with big screens surrounding us so the audience could see us from home. So, we drove to Orlando and back to Pensacola once a week for an entire year. During a normal year, we are traveling across the world doing three live events, each in different cities, and one television special every single week.

If you've never been to a live WWE show, it hits a lot different in person than seeing it on TV. If you haven't been to one, I really encourage you to go out and feel the energy. The crowd is just electric when they announce you in your hometown.

– Jimmy Uso

Jimmy, you come from a long lineage of wrestlers. What was your childhood like growing up and beginning your career as a wrestler?

Jimmy: Growing up, it was normal being around a lot of wrestlers and seeing my dad on TV. Kids would ask me about it at school and I was like, “yeah it’s cool, I guess?” It didn’t faze me.

My kids feel the same way about us today. But being from this family and trying to make your own mark was pretty intimidating at first. When you come from such a huge wrestling lineage like Rikishi and The Rock, and everybody else that was such a badass before you, you don’t want to be the first one to suck.

I’m just really glad to be on the tag team with my twin brother and have him and Trinity by my side as support. But man, all three of us in a car together on these long car rides, and sometimes we want to rip each other’s heads off. But it’s all love.

Do either of you have any career highlights or favorite moments over the years?

Naomi: Mine would be my debut with Brodus Clay and our former tag partner because it was such a journey getting to that debut. And, of course, when I won the Championship at WrestleMania 33 in

my hometown in Orlando—that was awesome.

Jimmy: I think the debut always sticks out with everybody. And the first time I won the championship with my brother. WrestleMania is like the biggest stage of the year; it’s the Super Bowl in our world. In 2015, my brother, Trinity and I got to do a match at WrestleMania with the three of us together on the same team. We flew our kids out to see it in California. We each had our families there, and they all got to see us in the ring together on the big stage.

It was such a cool memory.

Okay, you two aren’t the only famous ones in the family. Your dogs, Tank and Marley, have nearly 20K followers on Instagram! How do you keep their fans at bay?

Naomi: OMG. My dad is so upset by this. He’s a musician and has his own band, trying to get followers for gigs and shows. He really doesn’t understand why our dogs have so many followers and they don’t even do anything.

I started their Instagram just to entertain myself, because we are obsessed with our dogs.

They give us so much comfort and help us destress. But then I started to see that people really like them, so I kept it going, and now they really do have their own little fan base. We definitely miss them when we’re traveling. The constant traveling is the hardest part of the job for me—performing is the easy and fun part. We miss a lot of birthdays, holidays and events, but it comes with the territory.

Is there anything about the 2022 Road to WrestleMania Tour that you’re looking forward to or anything you would say to hype up people to come out and see it?

having our fans there to cheer us on, it’s a different kind of appreciation now. It really makes you value them even more. So, I’m just looking forward to being able to go out and see live performances and congregate together again— and not taking that for granted.

Jimmy: If you've never been to a live WWE show, it hits a lot different in person than seeing it on TV. If you haven't been to one, I really encourage you to go out and feel the energy. The crowd is just electric when they announce you in your hometown. Plus, I'm always happy to see a few of Pensacola's own performing in our hometown. Roman Reigns will be there. He’s our number one, Universal Champion. We both grew up here, played football together and went to Escambia High School together. It’s going to be awesome, and I hope people come out to see it.

The ROAD TO WRESTLEMANIA Pensacola Bay Center Sunday, March 13 7 pm

scan QR code for tickets

Naomi: For me, it’s definitely seeing our fans. After going through the pandemic and not DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 9

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Kale Yeah!

VegFest Returns to Pensacola Beach

By Nicole Willis Whether you’re vegan, vegetarian, or just open to trying new foods, Pensacola VegFest is the place for you! Pensacola VegFest is an annual celebration of compassionate living featuring unique plant-based foods, eco-friendly vendors, vegan artisans and family activities. Bring your appetite, an open mind and your family and friends to this day of cruelty-free fun!

The 4th annual Pensacola VegFest will take place Saturday, April 9 from 11 am to 6 pm. For the past two years, VegFest has been hosted at the Community Maritime Park. This year, the festival has been moved to a new location due to the park being under construction as a result of damages suffered from Hurricane Sally. The 2022 VegFest will now be hosted at the Casino Beach Gulfside Pavilion on Pensacola Beach.

“We are extremely excited to be hosting Pensacola VegFest on the beach this year. It is a dream location, and we know our guests will enjoy a festival on the beach

as much as we do,” Pensacola VegFest President, Whitney Hancock said.

food or junk food, desserts or a burger, Pensacola VegFest has a little something for everyone.

Tickets for the event are $5 each, “We are striving to bring more and free on-site parking will be plant-based options to the Gulf available at the new location on Coast while also normalizing the day of the event. veganism, educating the curious, and of course, cruelty-free eating,” Pensacola VegFest hosts a wide Hancock said. variety of food vendors for attendees to choose from. The event VegFest also features a variety of features a variety of foods and non-food related vendors selling vendors that represent many handmade jewelry, art, clothing, different cultures—traditional pottery, plants, soaps, candles American food, Indian, Brazilian and more. Several animal sanctuand even Ethiopian. If you want to aries and nonprofit organizations take something home, there will be will also be on-site promotplenty of packaged goods available ing their services and volunteer as well. Whether you want healthy opportunities. In total, VegFest DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 11

“

We are extremely excited to be hosting Pensacola VegFest on the beach this year.

It is a dream location, and we know our guests will enjoy a festival on the beach as much as we do.”

organizers are expecting anywhere from 25 to 40 vendors to participate in this year’s event.

With a wide variety of activities available at the event, attendees are sure to find something fun to participate in! Throughout the festival, there will also be live music, cooking demonstrations, face painting, food samples and various types of yoga. There will be a special children’s area with fun

activities for the kiddos such as face painting and coloring tables.

more. All raffles prizes will be distributed to the lucky winners at the event.

Upon entering the festival, attendees will have the opportunity to stop by the welcome booth to grab some educational flyers, coupons and free food samples.

Raffle tickets will be on sale for $2 each for a chance to win gift baskets filled with vendor products, vegan foods, clothing, jewelry, gift cards, coupons, festival merchandise and

Pensacola VegFest was established in 2018 out of a desire to grow the vegan community in Pensacola. “Veganism and vegan interests have been growing rapidly and many are curious. However, some have no idea where to start. We wanted to encapsulate into a festival a place and a way to meet all of those needs,” Hancock said.

Through the years, Vegfest has seen more than 10,000 guests and more than 80 different vendors. VegFest organizers are still accepting applications for both volunteers and vendors for those looking to get involved. For more information, visit pensacolavegfest.com.

Pensacola VegFest is dedicated to hosting an eco-friendly and an eco-conscious event with zero-waste. To accomplish this, VegFest organizers have partnered with Keep Pensacola Beautiful and East Hill Gardens to provide waste and compost management at the event.

Learn more about Pensacola VegFest at pensacolavegfest.com. For event details and updates, follow @PensacolaVegFest on Facebook and Instagram.

April 22 - 24, 2022

April 22 - 24, 2022

29 - MayApril 1, 2022 April 22 -April 24, 2022 29 - May 1, 2022 April 22 - 24, 2022 April 29 Pensacola - May 1, 2022Cultural Pensacola Cultural Center Center April 29 - May 1, 2022 www.balletpensacola.org Pensacola Cultural Center www.balletpensacola.org Pensacola Cultural Center 850-432-9546 www.balletpensacola.org www.balletpensacola.org 850-432-9546 850-432-9546 850-432-9546

Please join us for our 4 thannual

Jelly Bean 5K Run! Join us Easter Saturday, April 16th, 2022, for the 4th Annual Jelly Bean 5K race!

This is a family friendly event with state of the art race timing through the gentle rolling hills of Cordova Park. This year’s run will have a timed run and timed walk, as well as our children’s fun run.

April 16, 2022 GetMeRegistered.com/JellyBeanRun Presented by Trinity Presbyterian Church 3400 Bayou Blvd Pensacola, FL 32503

Proceeds will go towards a clean water filtration project in Jicamarca, Peru, a LivingWatersfortheWorld.org project.

Awards for first place finishers in each age group are the Famous Easter Cakes provided by the Trinity Presbyterian Women.

Appearance By The Sheriffs Mounted Posse.

Thank you to our Sponsors!

Filling a void across the Gulf Coast, organizers of the inaugural Thunder Beats Music Festival will host the largest EDM festival in the region featuring more than 100 artists April 22-24 at the Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds located at 6655 Mobile Highway.

BRINGING THE

THUNDER

BY MORGAN COLE | IMAGES COURTESY OF VERSA

THUNDER BEATS EDM MUSIC FESTIVAL LANDS IN PENSACOLA APRIL 22–24 A hot, new, three-day electronic music festival is bringing the heat to Pensacola with an iconic lineup featuring some of the biggest names in electronic dance music (EDM) for its inaugural spring event—Thunder Beats Music Festival.

14 | DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM

If you have turned on the radio, watched TV, or attended a music festival in the last several years you have likely noticed DJs and producers flooding the market.

What first began as an underground movement in the 1980s has grown to become the third most popular mainstream music genre in the world.

There’s no doubt that EDM is coming of age, and in a big way. A new generation of music fans has begun to shift their musical gaze to the percussive sounds of house, trance, future bass, dubstep, glitch, breaks and the dozens of other trendy sub-genres that fall under the umbrella of the EDM.

Presented by locally-founded entertainment company, Thunder Ranch Entertainment Holdings Group, LLC, the inaugural Thunder Beats Music Festival is set to be on par with some of the biggest festivals in the nation and promises to deliver a first-class experience.

“With more than 18 years of combined experience DJing, hosting electronic dance events and managing and coordinating other major shows, my two business partners and I set out to do what has never been done before—become the first to host a large-scale EDM music festival on the Gulf Coast,” Vice President of Thunder Ranch Entertainment Group Holdings, LLC Cameron Hardison explained. “We have been planning this event for more than a year and finally brought the dream to reality in June of 2022.”

Thunder Beats is pulling out all the stops for their debut edition, enlisting artists spanning genres from chill melodic house to filthy bass for a dynamic experience. The lineup features a veritable who’s who in the industry, with Marshmello, Kaskade and deadmau5 set to headline.

Steve Aoki, Adventure Club, Dillon

“We have gone above and beyond for the production. We have Deadmau5 bringing his entire cube v3 setup, which is really a one of a kind experience. We also have Marshmello debuting his stage for the second time, and that thing is absolutely insane. It’s only been seen one other time at Lollapalooza.”

Francis, Ganja White Night, RL Grime and Zomboy are among other big names making special appearances, while AIRGLO, Bobby Duque, Diskull, FREAKY, Kleøpatra, Mantis, Bonnie x Clyde and Sam WOLFE are bound to bring unique sets that festivalgoers won’t want to miss. Additionally, bass fanatics will want to be there as Autokorekt and Weird Waifu go back to back to deliver a certified neck-breaking set.

include Airglo; Celo; Dannytime; Dirtysnatcha b2b Rico Act; Diskull; Drinkurwater; Eddie Gold; Otica; Silentknight; Teminite; Azella; Btwubz; Charlie B; Chozen; Deer Wolf; Diced-Up; Doc Roc; Drone; Grisly; Hydcvt; JD Farrell; Kvbm; Kaventg; Loaded Gunn; Neon Tiger; Noxious; Onnoitsdopug; Rest In Pieces; Reydex; Rippa; Rudashi; Saylindz; Unicorn Fukr; Wermzer; Yokai and more.

The undercard is also packed with some incredible rising artists bringing fresh energy to the stage.

Other regional talent is set to

“We have brought on a team of highly-experienced entertainment professionals to help us coordinate and put on such a huge event with

From Left to Right: Festival Headliners Marshmello, Kaskade and Deadmau5

so many technical components,” Hardison said. “ADPTV is the event company that’s coming in to help out with the set up and logistics.

They brought in one of the best festival directors in the business named Ray Steinman, who has worked to organize big festivals like Ultra in Miami as well as other large-scale music events throughout the world.”

THUNDER BEATS MUSIC FESTIVAL PENSACOLA FAIR GROUNDS APRIL 22–24

Organizers have also announced that deadmau5 is bringing his fanfavorite “cube” production, which recently appeared in Las Vegas as part of a high-profile residency at Zouk Nightclub.

“We have gone above and beyond for the production. We have Deadmau5 bringing his entire cube v3 setup, which is really a one of a kind experience,” Hardson explained.

“We also have Marshmello debut-

SCAN QR CODE FOR TICKETS

DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 15

“We look forward to hosting the event right here in Pensacola year after year. We are even working on putting together an international touring concert as well.”

ing his stage for the second time, and that thing is absolutely insane. It’s only been seen one other time at Lollapalooza.”

In addition to more than 100 artists performing across three stages, Thunder Beats will also feature a variety of merchandise and food vendors, lighted fair rides, games and more. To kickoff the inaugural event, organizers will host a ticketed pre-party event on Thursday, April 21. Ticketed afterparties will also be held on festival grounds each night and will be limited to 3,500 attendees.

“We will have 100 plus different vendors on-site to enhance the overall festival experience, as well as just about any type of food you 16 | DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM

Above: Leah Culver Opposite Top to Bottom: Dillon Francis and Steve Aoki

can think of ranging from pizza, Chinese and burgers to BBQ, vegan and even vegetarian options,” Hardison explained.

Three-Day General Admission weekend passes for Thunder Beats Music Festival are on sale now and start at $300, plus fees. ThreeDay VIP Weekend Passes are also available star ting at $400, plus fees. VIP Passes include exclusive VIP access to the festival, VIP Entry, VIP-only restrooms, special VIP viewing areas, VIP bars, exclusive merch, VIP concierge services, VIP lounge and snack concessions, in addition to all general admission areas within the festival.

Event organizers will also donate a portion of all festival proceeds to benefit charities such as Wounded Warrior Project.

“Here in Pensacola we are a very big military town and my par tners and I have

f a m i l y w h o h av e e i t h e r served or currently serve in the armed forces, so we only saw it fitting to make sure to tie in a military charity like Wounded Warrior,” Hardison said.

Thunder Beats organizers have confirmed plans to host the three-day mega EDM fest annually, with Pensacola serving as the official home base for all of the excitement.

“We look forward to hosting the event right here in Pensacola year after year.

We are even working on putting together an international touring concert as well,” Hardison said.

Visit thunderbeatsmusicfestival.com for tickets and the most up-to-date information. Fans can also stay connected by following @thunderbeatsfestival on Facebook and Instagram.

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Streets Open for the Return of Ciclovía

By Dakota Parks and Nicole Willis

Warm weather, blooming flowers and outdoor activities all mark spring’s arrival in Pensacola. It’s that time of year when we can finally shed those extra layers of clothing and enjoy weather more typical of Florida.

Thankfully, there is an event where Pensacolians can gather and celebrate the spring with a bout of outdoor fun—Ciclovía.

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Ciclovía Pensacola will return to downtown Pensacola on March 26 from 10 am to 3 pm. On this day, the streets of downtown Pensacola will close down to be opened up; that is, all motorized traffic will be closed along Palafox and Main Street for people to roam the open streets on their wheels of choice.

Ciclovía, which translates to “open streets,” started out as an activist movement in Bogotá, Colombia in 1974. Activists were concerned with the effects of Bogotá’s over industrialization on people’s health.

Since then, Ciclovía has transformed into a regular outdoor extravaganza recurring

every Sunday in Colombia. Ciclovía is now an international event adopted by more than 400 cities worldwide.

The weekly ciclovías in Bogotá attract approximately two million people—around 30 percent of Bogotá’s entire population.

What began as an activist movement, has grown to become a weekly event that promotes healthy living, social interaction and tactical urbanism.

On March 26, the public is invited to come out and embrace the clean air and carfree streets for Ciclovía 2022 in downtown Pensacola. Individuals are iinvited to cruise the downtown streets on nonmotorized vehicles—bikes, skateboards, roller blades, scooters, unicycles—even Heelys if you still happen to have a pair laying around from 2008. If wheels aren’t your speed, join the party and run, skip or dance around. Streets will be closed to vehicles on Palafox from Garden Street to Plaza de Luna and Bayfront and Main Street from Wharf Avenue to Clubbs Street.

A full map of the event’s course is available on the Ciclovía Pensacola website.

“The downtown street grid is the perfect place for bike riding, walking and enjoying outdoor exercise that benefits our minds and bodies. That’s especially true when those streets are closed to motorized vehicles,” Ciclovía Pensacola Chairman Rand Hicks said. “Ciclovía creates a fun, safe place to meet your neighbors from our many diverse neighborhoods and experience downtown in a unique and fun way.”

In addition to the open streets, attendees will also have a chance to enjoy multiple activities geared for children and adults of all ages. This year’s event will feature active pursuits such as hatha yoga, ecstatic dancing, stepping and more. Multiple vendors and food booths will also be on-site for the event. Children’s activities will be hosted in locations along Main Street down to the Seville Square area.

The success of Ciclovía isn’t just measurable by turnout but also by the aspirations of the event. Part of what Ciclovía aims to do is give people the opportunity to discover new locations, venues and merchants throughout downtown Pensacola.

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“The downtown street grid is the perfect place for bike riding, walking and enjoying outdoor exercise that benefits our minds and bodies. That’s especially true when those streets are closed to motorized vehicles.”

By having free reign of the downtown streets, people will be able to explore new places that they may have never been to before. Attendees can stop by restaurants, retail shops, museums and art galleries. According to research conducted by the University of West Florida and Visit Pensacola, 57 percent of Ciclovía participants either discovered a new store or restaurant by attending the event and according to Majority Opinion Research, Ciclovía has a $1 million dollar impact on our area.

The benefits of Ciclovía, however, go beyond the economic factor by improving Pensacola’s overall health and social environment. It’s easy to see how Ciclovía promotes healthy living. Evidence from past Pensacola Ciclovías suggests that it’s fun enough to attract a crowd and make an impact. In March 2019, an estimated 15,000 people crowded downtown streets for Ciclovía. This year’s event marks the fifth year of Ciclovía being hosted in

Pensacola. Event organizers look forward to bringing back Ciclovía for 2022 after having to cancel the event in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Attendance at Ciclovía has grown each year since the inaugural event was held in 2017, Hicks explained. “People really enjoy this event. They love downtown, they love being outside in the spring and they love meeting and engaging with their neighbors. They want more ciclovías, and we are delighted to provide this annual celebration. Come join us where Palafox meets Main at noon on the 26th,” Hicks said.

To learn more about Ciclovía 2022, visit cicloviapensacola.com or follow @CicloviaPensacola on Facebook and Instagram.

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March

COMMUNITY EVENTS Pensacola March Ice Flyers Schedule For more information and tickets, visit pensacolaiceflyers.com.

March 11 at 7:05 pm . . . . . Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs vs Ice Flyers March 12 at 7:05 pm . . . . . Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs vs Ice Flyers March 25 at 7:05 pm . . . . . . Fayetteville Marksmen vs Ice Flyers March 26 at 7:05 pm . . . . . . Fayetteville Marksmen vs Ice Flyers March 27 at 5:05 pm . . . . . . Fayetteville Marksmen vs Ice Flyers April 1 at 7:05 pm . . . . . . . . . Evansville Thunderbolts vs Ice Flyers April 2 at 7:05 pm . . . . . . . . Evansville Thunderbolts vs Ice Flyers The Sun Belt Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 2–7 The Sun Belt Conference basketball tournament will be played in Pensacola, FL on March 2–7, marking the beginning of NCAA March Madness. The 12 men’s and women’s Sun Belt teams are competing at the Pensacola Bay Center. For tickets and information visit ticketmaster.com.

Badfish: Tribute to Sublime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 4 Badfish, a Tribute to Sublime channels the spirit of Sublime with a fury not felt for some time. Badfish encompasses the sense of place and purpose long associated with Sublime’s music.The show will be held at the Vinyl Music Hall on March 4 at 8 pm. Tickets can be purchased via vinylmusichall.com.

O’Riley’s Irish Pub Annual Grog March . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .March 5 Every year O’Riley’s is able to collect food and donations for Manna Food Pantries through the annual Pensacola Grog March to help feed the hungry in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. The event runs from 4 pm to 11 pm and consists of pub crawls, donations and a raffle. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit orileyspub.com.

Pensacola Symphony Orchestra Presents: Russian Spectacular . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .March 5 The Pensacola Symphony Orchestra’s annual exploration of the passionate and distinctive music of Russian composers returns with Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 1, featuring Sara Davis Buechner and Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2, a showcase of the composer’s genius in melodic invention and rich orchestration. The show will be held at the Pensacola Saenger Theatre on March 5 at 7:30 pm. Purchase tickets online at ticketmaster.com.

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Finding Focus: The History, Use, and Benefits of the Labyrinth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 8 UWF’s College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities is hosting an evening centered around the spiritual, therapeutic and meditative uses of the labyrinth. This event will include an expert panel discussion, Gregorian chants, dance and a chance for attendees to walk a labyrinth. The event will be held at the UWF Student Commons Auditorium (Bldg.

22) and will run from 5:30 to 8 pm.

Pensacola Opera Presents: The Barber of Seville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 11 & 13 This performance and lecture program highlights the relationships between visual art, history, and music surrounding Pensacola Opera’s upcoming show, Rossini’s The Barber of Seville on March 11. The lecture will be followed by performances from the score

by Pensacola Opera’s Artists in Residence.

Then, a curator from The Pensacola Museum of Art will explore a visual art-related topic correlating with Rossini. Shows will be held at the Pensacola Saenger Theatre on March 11 at 7:30 pm and March 13 at 2 pm. Tickets can be purchased at ticketmaster.com.

UWF Women in Leadership Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 11 The UWF Women in Leadership Conference is an impactful event for young and seasoned professionals alike. The 8th annual conference will provide opportunities for attendees to hear from and connect with prominent women leaders from across the state who have achieved both personal and professional success. The conference will be held at the UWF Conference Center on March 11 from 8 am to 3 pm. Registration is required to attend the event. For more information visit uwf.edu.

PJ Morton, Live Concert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .March 12

Anastasia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .March 15, 16

Whether performing, playing or producing, the GRAMMY® Award- and Dove® Awardwinning multi-instrumentalist, PJ Morton, consistently crafts work of a classic caliber on stage and in the studio. PJ Morton will be performing at the Vinyl Music Hall on March 12 at 8 pm. Tickets can be purchased via vinylmusichall.com.

Inspired by the beloved films, the romantic and adventure-filled new musical, Anastasia, is on a journey to Pensacola at last! This dazzling show transports you from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s, as a brave young woman sets out to discover the mystery of her past. Pursued by a ruthless Soviet officer determined to silence her, Anya enlists the aid of a dashing conman and a lovable ex-aristocrat. Together, they embark on an epic adventure to help her find home, love and family. The show will be held at the Saenger Theatre on March 15 and 16 at 7:30 pm. Purchase tickets online at ticketmaster.com.

Mountainfilm on Tour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .March 12 The Colorado-born outdoor film festival, Mountainfilm, is coming to Pensacola. This traveling film festival showcases documentary films about pressing environmental and social issues. Mountainfilm seeks to use the power of film, art and ideas to inspire audiences to create a better world. The tour will soon visit Pensacola at Museum Plaza at 120 Church St. on Saturday March 12 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. The show kicks off on Saturday March 12 at 6:30 pm. For tickets and information, visit mountainfilm.org.

Bike Pensacola’s March Slow Ride . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .March 12

Live at Alga: Drayton Farley with Special Guest Tony Logue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 18 Drayton Farley is back in the taproom during a short run to Central Florida, and he’s bringing his tour mate, Tony Logue, along for the ride. Farley and Logue fit into the genres of country, folk, and Americana music. As always, there’s no cover and beers will be in abundance. Be sure to catch their set at Alga Beer Company on March 18 at 6 pm. For updates and event details, follow @algabeerco on Facebook and Instagram.

Join Bike Pensacola for the most popular bike ride in town, the Slow Ride! Each month attendees explore the quiet, scenic streets of Pensacola’s many historic neighborhoods for a fun and leisurely ride among friends. This Gallery Night Pensacola 2022 month’s Slow Ride will be held on March 12 “Shake Your Shamrock” at Museum Plaza, located at 120 Church St., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 18 and will begin at 3 pm. March’s Slow Ride will This month’s Gallery Night theme is “Shake be in conjunction with Mountainfilm on Tour, Your Shamrock,” in honor of the lucky holia traveling film festival showcasing culturally day! Fill up your cup with green beer and rich documentary films. The film festival come explore Downtown Pensacola for a will follow the Slow Ride at Museum Plaza. fun, funky night with all your friends. Palafox For more information about the Slow Ride, Street (from Garden Street to Main Street) visit bikepensacola.org or @BikePensacola will be closed to traffic to provide open on Facebook. streets for patrons to explore and enjoy music, art, food and more. This month’s Ever’Market @ Nine Mile Road Gallery Night will be held on March 18 from . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .March 12 5 pm to 9 pm. For more information visit Join Ever’man Cooperative Grocery & Cafe at gallerynightpensacola.org. their Nine Mile Road location for this monthly market event. This monthly market allows Pensacola Community Market customers to come out and support responMarch 19 sible local agriculture and small businesses. Pensacola Community Market is a commuThere will be multiple local vendors outside nity-centered event that seeks to support of the store and samples inside. The market and serve the Pensacola area. The market will be held on March 12 from 10 am to 4 will feature an array of local businesses that pm. For complete details, visit everman.org. range from hand made items to services.

Apart from the businesses, there will be a Sex N’ The City children’s activities area as well as food and . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .March 14 drinks. The market will be hosted on March 19 Sex N’ The City: The “Super” Unauthorized from 10 am to 3 pm at 418 W Garden St. in Musical Parody follows our favorite single downtown Pensacola, across the street from gals looking for love in the big city. Come EverMan’s Cooperative. For more information join Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha visit pensacolacommunityhub.com. on a hilarious trip through New York in the 90s. The show will be held at the Saenger Dancing to a New Beginning Theatre on March 14 at 7:30 pm. Tickets can . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .March 19 be purchased at ticketmaster.com.

Join FavorHouse in their inaugural fundraiser to help domestic violence and sexual assault victims on the Gulf Coast. Presented by Fred

Astaire Dance Studios, this dance competition is comprised of community leaders competing against each other. Each leader is paired with a professional dancer to perform a routine on the Saenger stage. The event will be held at the Pensacola Saenger Theatre on March 19 at 7 pm. Visit pensacolasaenger. com for tickets and information.

Pensacola Symphony Orchestra presents: American Classics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 26 Join the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra to explore the contributions of a diverse range of American composers with selections from Duke Ellington’s balletic The River, the adventurous themes of Aaron Copland’s Billy the Kid, and Amy Beach’s “Gaelic” Symphony, the first symphony written and published by a female American composer. The show will be held at the Saenger Theatre on March 26 and will begin at 7:30 pm. For tickets and details, visit ticketmaster.com.

Hairspray the Musical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 29 & 30 Broadway’s Tony Award-winning musical comedy phenomenon that inspired the blockbuster film and live television event, Hairspray, is back on tour. Join 16-year-old Tracy Turnblad in 1960s Baltimore as she sets out to dance her way onto TV’s most popular show. Don’t miss this “exhilaratingly funny and warm-hearted musical comedy” (The New Yorker). The show will be held at the Pensacola Saenger Theatre on March 29 and 30 at 7:30 pm. Visit ticketmaster.com for tickets and information.

Dorothy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . April 1 Dorothy is a blues-rock band headed by frontwoman Dorothy Martin. Dorothy’s third studio album, Gifts From The Holy Ghost, is the group’s most bombastic and gloriously, victorious rock and roll work yet. Dorothy will be performing at the Vinyl Music Hall on April 1 at 7 pm. Tickets can be purchased via vinylmusichall.com.

The Price is Right Live . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . April 2 The Price Is Right Live™ is a sell-out interactive stage show that gives eligible individuals the chance to “Come On Down” and play classic games made famous by the iconic network television show, The Price is Right.

Contestants can win cash, sought-after appliances, epic vacations and, of course, a brand-new car! Showing to sold-out audiences for more than a decade and counting, The Price Is Right Live™ has given away more than 12 million dollars worth of cash and prizes to lucky audience members all across North America. The show will be held at the Pensacola Saenger Theatre April 2 at 7:30 pm. Tickets can be purchased at ticketmaster.com.

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MILITARYMATTERS

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ENERGY IMPROVEMENTS PLANNED AT NAS PENSACOLA

by Susan Brink Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Southeast awarded a $7.6 firm-fixed-price task order to Florida Power & Light (FPL) Company, from Juno Beach, Florida, for implementation of energy improvements at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida. The project is expected to save the Navy over $501,000 per year in utility costs.

“We are excited for the opportunity to partner with FPL to apply advanced technologies to improve our facilities and continue working toward our energy reduction goals,” NAS Pensacola Installation Energy Manager Sabrina Hopkins said.

FPL provides electric service in many areas along the east coast of Florida, the agricultural area around southern and eastern Lake Okeechobee, the lower west coast area, and portions of central, north central and portions of Northwest Florida.

Under the contract, 18 facilities onboard NAS Pensacola will receive interior and exterior lighting upgrades. Other upgrades include water efficiency improvements at eight facilities; chiller replacement at Building 3909; heating, ventilation and air conditioning controls upgrades in four facilities; high efficiency electrical transformer upgrades in six facilities and medium voltage transformer and switchgear replacement at Building 514.

The energy improvement project is expected to be completed by December 2023.

NAS PENSACOLA MORALE, WELFARE AND RECREATION DIRECTOR RETIRES AFTER DECADES OF SERVICE

by Joshua Cox

Kerry Shananghan speaks to a crowd during the 2015 Darius Rucker concert aboard NAS Pensacola.

Photo courtesy of Naval Air Station Pensacola 22 | DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM

Kerry Shanaghan has served Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola since the late 1990s, first as the executive officer of the installation, and then as the Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) and Child and Youth Programs (CYP) director. Shanaghan, known as “Shans” here, retired at the end of December after a successful and distinguished career with the U.S. Navy and MWR. “I was born in Virginia Beach, Virginia, but my dad was a naval aviator so we moved all over the place,” Shanaghan said. “I never really called any place home until we moved (to Pensacola) and I’ve been here since 1998. So this is the longest I’ve ever lived in one place.”

Shanaghan began his naval career at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. “I went to the Naval Academy — I was

NAS WHITING FIELD ANNOUNCES 2021 SAILORS, CIVILIANS OF THE YEAR NAS Whiting Field announced their Civilians of the Year, Sailor of the Year, Junior Sailor of the Year, and Blue Jacket of the Year 2021 recipients on Friday, February 4.

Petty Officer 1st Class Adam Montoya, Petty Officer 2nd Class Brooke Fox, and Petty Officer 3rd Class Jaime Delatorre were

selected Sailor, Junior Sailor, and Blue Jacket of the Year, respectively. The base’s Senior Civilian of the Year is Tom Kubalewski, Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Director and Junior Civilian of the Year is Xylene Lennon, Community Recreations Manager, MWR. The NAS Whiting Field Commanding Officer, Capt. Paul Flores congratulated the recipients Friday, highlighting their exceptional service and outstanding professionalism.

Left to right: Petty Officer 1st Class Adam Montoya, Petty Officer 2nd Class Brooke Fox, Petty Officer 3rd Class Jaime Delatorre, Tom Kubalewski and Xylene Lennon. Photos courtesy of NAS Whiting Field

in the class of 1979,” he said. “Yes, it was a long time ago.”

Shanaghan was a naval aviator and flew A-6 Intruders for most of his career, primarily stationed on NAS Oceana. He served on seven deployments on various aircraft carriers to include the USS Independence (CV-62), USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) and USS Saratoga (CV-60).

“I was in Grenada and Lebanon for the things that took place there in 1983 onboard the USS Independence,” he said.

During his career as a naval aviator, he also served as a landing signal officer (LSO) on aircraft carriers. He was a landing signal officer onboard USS Theodore Roosevelt for its initial cruise with Carrier Air Wing Eight.

“Being an LSO was very fulfilling because you’re the last thing between someone hitting the deck wrong or crashing on the back end of the ship,” he said. “You’re out there in all sorts of weather conditions.”

There were several pilots who came up to me and thanked me for bringing them on board on a particularly scary night when they were junior officers, he said. It was a tough job, but it was fulfilling.

He was the chief test director with Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Nine (VX9) at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake and was also stationed in Japan for several years.

“I did a lot of test and evaluation work when I was chief test director,” he said.

“We developed software and new weapon systems for the aircraft assigned out there, which included A-6s, F-18s, Harriers and Cobras for the Marine Corps,” Shanaghan explained.

Shanaghan came to NAS Pensacola as the executive officer in 1998, retired in 2002 and was in the Navy for a total of 23 years.

Following his retirement from the Navy, Shanaghan was asked to f ill the vacant MWR regional director position on NAS Pensacola. At the time, he was in charge of MWR activities on NAS Pensacola and NAS Whiting Field.

Shanaghan said that a lot has changed since he accepted the job as MWR director nearly 20 years ago — the region’s structure was modified, however, the MWR mission remained on NAS Pensacola and continued to grow.

MILITARYMATTERS As MWR director, Shanaghan made single service members and families onboard NAS Pensacola a priority, and his goal was to always provide the absolute best programs and services for MWR and CYP patrons.

While Shanaghan was MWR director, the department provided NAS Pensacola personnel with a myriad of activities and programs — all evolving and changing throughout the year to accommodate the turnover of personnel here.

The MWR team operates the A.C. Read Golf Course, two marinas, a movie theater, bowling alley, library, a modern liberty center for students and unaccompanied personnel, multiple fitness centers with the latest equipment and classes, outdoor recreation areas and campgrounds — just to list a few.

Shanaghan is particularly proud of the special events MWR has provided to the NAS Pensacola community over the years.

“We’ve done a lot of high-end entertainment, particularly in the concert world, up

through 2019,” he said. “Probably the most fun I had was the Independence Day concert in 2015 with Darius Rucker. We must have had 15 to 20,000 people — it was free.

Everybody came from all around — we had a big fireworks display that night.”

In Shanaghan’s time here, MWR coordinated visits by celebrities like University of Alabama head football coach Nick Saban and NASCAR Cup Champion Kyle Busch.

MWR coordinated Family Luau events, winter sledding with artificial snow, U.S. Navy Blue Angels Homecoming Airshow activities, and even therapy pig visits to NAS Pensacola.

Over the course of 20 years, several major hurricanes hit the southeast region, and MWR was ready to serve following each natural disaster. Shanaghan said Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana and a major storm near Naval Station Guantanamo Bay forced evacuations of military personnel and civilians to NAS Pensacola. For several weeks

in the wake of both storms, MWR was responsible for providing entertainment and programs for evacuees who were displaced due to the devastating weather.

Shanaghan’s team has earned multiple awards under his leadership, including 5-Star Accreditations from the Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) MWR Accreditation Program.

“We were the first base to be accredited as a 5-Star, and we’ve been a 5-Star base every year,” he said. “We also won the National Recreation and Parks Association Gold Medal Award, which is presented to the best of the DoD bases worldwide.”

NAS Pensacola’s campground was also voted best Military RV park in the southeast.

“I’m proud of everything that we have done here at MWR,” he said.

“There have been hitches and glitches along the way, just like with anything else.

But the people that are in place right now are working harder than ever because of

the COVID-19 pandemic. We’re trying to figure out programming in an ever-changing environment,” Shanaghan said.

“Working with ‘Shans’ was a unique learning experience,” Jack Reed of NAS Pensacola MWR Operations said. “He always ensured our patrons experienced the best of what MWR offered. During his almost 20 years at MWR, we achieved many accolades, which was a reflection of his leadership and allowing us to implement new ideas.”

Shanaghan said he doesn’t have any big plans following retirement, but plans to stay active in the community and referee youth soccer. He also said he plans to support his wife while she returns to college to study nursing and social work.

“My wife was a Navy nurse, I was a Navy pilot,” he said. “She has a wonderful heart for those types of things, and she supported me all during this time.”

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