HAVING FUN AND GIVING BACK ON YOUR MARK, GET SET, GIVE A LITTLE! GRAB AN OAR, SAVE A LIFE ANNIE GET YOUR GUN (READY FOR APPRAISAL) CAPES, COWLS AND CANES
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DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | AUGUST 2017 DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 1
Downtown Crowd | August 2017
Editor’s Letter
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contents
7 Benefit for the Homeless 8 Grab an Oar, Save a Life
9 Annie Get Your Gun (Ready for Appraisal) 10 Food! Drinks! Dragons! 11 On Your Mark, Get Set, Give a Little 12 Capes, Cowls and Canes 14 National Book Lover’s Day 17 Seville Quarter’s Golden Jubille 18 Music and Film 21 A Convention for Everyone 2 | DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM
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Owners Malcolm & Glenys Ballinger Executive Editor Kelly Oden Editor Hana Frenette Art Director Guy Stevens Graphic Design and Ad Coordination Carly Stone
Hana Frenette editor hen I started looking around for stories to cover in the month of August, I noticed a handful of events and parties that also served as benefits for local charities. I saw one or two pop up, and then three and four, and quickly realized August was chock full of events based solely on helping others in the community. I don’t always take time out to volunteer like I should, but Pensacola made it easy for us all in August. Our cover story this month is all about “Having fun, while giving back,” and we’ve featured several amazing events that deeply affect local families, children and charities. Just show up, and you’re already helping! If you prefer to be outdoors while giving back, strap on some running shoes for the Bushwacker 5k to benefit Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Northwest Florida, or grab an oar and assemble a team for the annual Pensacola Dragon Boat Festival at Bayview Park to help the Gulf Coast Kid’s House. If you’ve exhausted your summer on land, check out the Preemie Cup Events lineup on Pensacola Beach. The schedule of races and auctions includes a regatta, silent auction, and lots of paddleboarding—and it all goes toward helping the prematurely born babies in the Neonatal Intensive care unit at Sacred Heart Hospital.
Publisher Malcolm Ballinger
If you prefer to give in a more air conditioned setting, don your best cosplay costume or ball gown for Pensacon’s Dress Up or Dress Up Ball, with proceeds going to the SouthBARK Animal Rescue and the Pensaocla Little Theater. If dressing in costume is your thing, this month is all about you! After you hit up the Dress Up Ball, head over to Pensacola Comic Con and take delight in their world class guests, ghost hunts, belly dancers and sci-fi exhibitions. The proceeds from this year’s event will go directly to the Ronald McDonald House, so you know everything from your entrance fee to your food purchase is going toward making a difference, right here in Pensacola. Last but not least, this month features the first ever FUHC Fest at the Handlebar- the acronym stands for “Feeding the Urband Homeless Community,” and that’s just what event organizers plan to do with the proceeds. The fest will feature performances from local and traveling comedians, musicians, artists and more. Bringing canned goods is encouraged, and a tangible way to see the difference you’re making as you enjoy some laughs, beer and a band or two. Cheers to making a difference alongside the passionate and dedicated community members who tirelessly host these wonderful events!
Editorial Assistant Tanner Yea Contributing Writer Haley Weaver Editorial Intern Heidi Travis Advertising Account Executives Paula Rode paula@ballingerpublishing.com Geneva Strange geneva@ballingerpublishing.com Deadline for space and information is the 15th of the month prior to publication. For advertising rates or news tips contact Phone: 433-1166 · Fax: 435-9174 DOWNTOWN CROWD is published by Ballinger Publishing. Offices located at 314 N Spring St., Ste. A, Pensacola Florida 32501 Published by Ballinger Publishing
Downtown Crowd is locally owned and operated. It is published monthly for distribution in Pensacola, Florida. All Right Reserved. Reproduction or use of the contents herein is prohibited without written permission from the publisher. Comments and opinions expressed in this magazine represent the personal views of the individuals to whom they are attributed and/ or the person identified as the author of the article, and they are not necessarily those of the publisher. This magazine accepts no responsibility for these opinions. The publisher reserves the right to edit all manuscripts. All advertising information is the responsibility of the individual advertiser. Appearance in this magazine does not necessarily reflect endorsement of any products or services by Ballinger Publishing. © 2017
Cover design by Carly Stone
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A word from Curt Morse, Executive Director of the Downtown Improvement Board As always, our intent is to positively affect both the appearance of downtown and the experience people have downtown. We believe the two go hand in hand and we are always thinking of ways to do more. We’re launching a downtown ambassador program next month. The program will feature two ambassadors who will be out and about downtown seven days a week. They’ll help with cleaning and picking up trash from the sidewalks, along with the removal of graffiti and random decals. We will begin regular surface cleanings of sidewalks, twice a year. We’ll also work on removing isolated weed abatements that pop up in different places. The ambassadors will also pick up cigarette butts and will pay special attention to some of the little details of downtown by doing things like wiping down trash can lids, or inspecting around businesses for litter. We have one person now that does that for us part- time, and we feel that committing two full-time people to this task is important. In addition to keep the streets clean, we want these individuals to assume a hospitable role as well. They’ll be trained in frontline hospitably, so they can look for the opportunity to engage individuals downtown. They’ll be able to inform them about things going on in and around downtown, where different businesses are located and what the nightlife is available. We’ll be looking for some very special candidates who can not only take care of the house cleaning portion of the job, but can help visitors find their way around town as well. We’re finalizing the “Downtown Explorers Guide,” named for Tristan De Luna, who was our very first explorer. People can use this little map and guide to figure out where they want to head next, whether that’s Maritime Park, UWF Historic Trust, or any of our great museums, restaurants or shops. The guide will be distributed at our local merchants downtown and Visit Pensacola’s welcome center. You’ll also be able to find them at all the welcome centers along the interstates nearby, and our ambassadors will have them as well. We’re going to have 350 people moving into downtown residential apartments in the coming year and I want to meet if
not surpass their expectations. We think these ambassadors and the “Downtown Explorers Guide” are going to help make their experience even better. I am keeping with the Downtown Crowd’s “Having Fun and Giving Back,” theme this month, I want to discuss a project we’ve been working on with Pathways For Change(PFC), which is an organization that helps people re-enter society after an incarceration. They typically need some type of discipline or schedule and have someone who trains them vocationally. The DIB has been negotiating with Pathways For Change in order to set up a possible program to utilize their skills downtown. Instead of these individuals with a minor charge serving 18 months in prison, they’re going to work with PFC in their outdoor landscaping program and help provide us this service, which we need. I’m really excited about being able to help these individuals start their new lives. We’ve been working with PFC on the development of this program and we’re looking to incorporate their “Everything Outdoors Landscaping,” program into our downtown scene very soon. On the topic of landscaping, we have officially begun the landscaping renovation for the new streetscape of the Jefferson Street Corridor. We’re beginning to work on the irrigation system in order to prepare for the $27,000 worth of new landscaping we’ll be installing. The Jefferson Street Corridor is the welcome mat for all the new development happening on Jefferson Street, and we want it to look as inviting as possible, while also increasing walkability. I met with City of Pensacola officials recently to discuss several streetscape improvements, including the west side of Jefferson Street, which will look as fabulous as the east side. The process will entail removing and replacing trees, storm water maintenance, and infrastructure details like sidewalk additions. We know it’s a very expensive project to take on and we don’t expect the city to do it all once, but we’re very excited to get started on it and to begin making changes to make our downtown the best it can be. DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 5
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This month’s Downtown Crowd is all about giving back and having fun. As summer wears on, there are many opportunities for you and your friends or family to enjoy all that Pensacola has to offer—sporting events, conventions, balls, raffles, competitions and more. More importantly, Pensacola is lucky to be filled with many generous and enterprising people and organizations. While we all enjoy some fun in the sun, our community has found unique ways to turn the good times into something even better.
Together with local charities, event organizers have coordinated their efforts into numerous fundraising opportunities here in Escambia County as a way to support our local community and its many causes. From supporting the arts, feeding the homeless and caring for animals, to providing safe spaces for children and families to thrive—there is never a shortage of opportunities to lend a helping hand. Next time you head out on the town, make it a point to hit up one of these upcoming events and relish in the fact that you’re giving just as much as you’re getting. DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 7
having fun & giving back
“These events will bring families together for a day of play on the water while supporting the incredible pediatric care Sacred Heart provides to the children of our community,” said Carol Carlan, president of Sacred Heart Foundation. “The funds raised through events like the Preemie Cup are vital to ensuring that the services of The Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart will be here for years to come to provide high-quality pediatric care for future generations.” Often times, preemies and children who spent their early days at the NICU return to share their thanks during the Preemie Cup Events, so keep an eye out for healthy and smiling children cheering on the sailors and paddleboarders.
2017 Preemie Cup Events:
Stephanie Bell and daughter Addison Kline Bell pose on the beach together during the annual Preemie Cup Events that benefit the Sacred Heart Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Addison was born four weeks early and stayed in the NICU at Sacred Heart Hospital while she received the care she needed to stay alive.
Grab an Oar, Save a Life the preemie cup events will benefit the NICu at sacred heart hospital. by hana frenette
Hop on a boat and feel the wind in your hair as you race through the blue waters toward the finish line. You’re competing against dozens of fellow sailors, but you’re all working toward the same goal—to help provide better care to prematurely born babies in Northwest Florida. The 2017 Preemie Cup Events, including a regatta, fishing tournament, silent auction and paddle relay held on Pensacola Beach, will benefit the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Sacred Heart Hospital and give newborns like Addison Kline Bell DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 8
the help they need to live a strong and healthy life. Bell was born four weeks premature with no heartbeat, and received a second chance at life, thanks to the Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at The Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart. She was the first NICU baby to receive a special cooling blanket that saved her life. “We are so lucky to have such an amazing NICU in our area,” said Addison’s mom, Stephanie Bell, who serves as chair of Preemie Cup. “Many people don’t understand the value of having a NICU until they have an infant whose life depends on it.” Addison, now 6 years old and taking dance and gymnastics, is just one of more than 1,000 infants a year throughout Northwest Florida who receive the highly specialized care that only a NICU can provide. High-tech additions like the cooling blankets are now standard therapy at the hospital and were purchased with Preemie Cup proceeds. 2017 Preemie Cup events will offer something for everyone —whether you’re a sailing enthusiasts, fishing fan or a stand-up paddleboarder—come out and support your local community.
Thursday, Aug. 24 Preemie Cup Pre-Party & Silent Auction, 6 to 9 pm at The Lee House in downtown Pensacola with catering by The Fish House. Enjoy a light buffet, entertainment and a cash bar along with the silent auction. Please note: A Fishing Tournament Captain’s Meeting will be held at 7 pm at The Lee House. For more information, call 850-416-4660. Saturday, Aug. 26 Fishing Tournament Lines in at 5 am; Weigh-ins set for 1 to 5 pm, Pensacola Yacht Club Sailing Center. Registration fee: $20, single entry; free for children 12 and under. Awards will be presented following the tournament. For tournament rules/guidelines and registration, visit www.preemiecup.com Preemie Cup Paddle Relay 9 am to 12 pm on Pensacola Beach at Horizon Beach Service Dock on Little Sabine Bay (across from the Margaritaville Beach Hotel). Entry fees: $25, single entry; $65, team of three participants. Register at www.preemiecup.com Boards will be provided, and awards will be presented after the event. Preemie Cup Regatta Noon on Pensacola Bay Entry fee: $40; open to all classes. For information, visit www.preemiecup.com. Awards will be presented after the regatta at the Pensacola Yacht Club Sailing Center.
having fun & giving back
Annie Get your Gun (Ready for Appraisal)
The annual Appraisal Fair at garth’s antiques and action will benefit the quina House Museum by hana frenette
It’s time to dust off the records, carnival glass, military garb and hunting paraphernalia in the closet and bring it to the annual Antiques Appraisal Fair at Garth’s Antiques and Auction House, on Navy Boulevard. If you’re looking to sell some long hoarded antiques or just get an idea of what a family heirloom is worth, this is the place to do it. Visitors and collectors come from all over the area to experience the Panhandle version of the classic BBC and PBS “Antiques Roadshow.” “It’s a blast! It is just so much fun because we get to see some of the neatest and most unusual things that people have kept hidden away in their attics and closest for years,” said Winston Garth, antique appraiser and co-owner of Garth’s Auctions and Antiques. Garth has been in the antique business for most of his life and has seen a variety of interesting and noteworthy pieces come through the appraisal fair. One piece he notes as a favorite over the years was a hand-carved chess set from a World War II Nazi prison camp in Alabama.The man who carved the set was a guard at the camp and he carved the set himself out of old wooden crates from the camp,” Garth said. Other notable items to pass through the fair include collections of Roman coins, a miniature rifle that was made in 1876 in celebration of the centennial, and a Civil War confederate presentation sword given to a major in Pensacola that was valued at $15,000.
For every amazing, old relic with a rich piece of history, you see a couple duds though, according to Garth. “Sometimes people bring in an item their grandmother told them was very old but then you look on the bottom and there’s a K-Mart tag stuck to the bottom,” he said. “Most of the people are pleasantly surprised by what their item is worth though.” Guests can bring their items in on Saturday, Sept. 2, from 9 am-2 pm for a fun opportunity to learn what their old necklace from grandma’s jewelry box is worth—or how much that old chair, comic book stash, coin collection, garage sale painting, or any vintage item might be. And of course you’ll be able to ogle the fascinating variety that other folks bring in, too. Appraisers representing a wide variety of expertise will scrutinize the treasures: long-established antique dealer Winston Garth, his son Robert Garth, Jeff Bannon, and Tony Wimmer. Others may be called on for additional insight, including world-renown Bonhams Antique and Auction House and other experts with whom Garth’s Antiques dealers routinely interact. Entry fee of $5 (at the door) includes evaluation of one item. Each additional item is $3, as time allows.
The Antique Appraisal Fair benefits the Quina House Museum, a downtown institution. Nonprofit Pensacola Historic Preservation Society (PHPS) is sponsoring this special community event for the 23nd time. Proceeds will help PHPS continue its historical outreach programs and maintain the charming 207-year-old Quina House Museum, which provides the public personalized, free tours at 204 S. Alcaniz St., a few buildings north of historic Seville Square. For more info visit the PHPS Facebook page at Quina House Museum or call board members Beverly Stagg, (850) 393-3091, or Gena Buchanan, (850) 494-9802. DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 9
having fun & giving back
Food! Drinks!
Dragons! The annual Dragon Boat Festival Will benefit the Gulf coast kid’s house by heidi TRavis
Derived from the Duanwu Festival in China, which occurs on the fifth day of the fifth month of the traditional Chinese calendar, Pensacola’s Annual Dragon Boat Festival puts a local spin on the whole spectacle. The all-day festival, which takes place September 9 at Bayou Texar, includes music, food, and children’s games, but most of the excitement will come from the main event—the dragon boat race! The dragon boats, 40-foot long canoes fashioned with elaborate dragon mastheads, are the stars of the show.The race pits over 40 teams of 20 oarsmen and women against each other in a heated contest set to the beat of their own drums—literally. Each 10 | DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM
crew includes a drummer, pounding out a rhythm to which the team will stroke their way to the finish line. Training for this event is intense and takes place over several months. Synchronization is the key to success—that, and more than a little elbow grease. The team that can work together to keep pace to the rhythm of the drum and cut the 300 meters across Bayou Texar first is the winner. But it isn’t all just fun and games. The Dragon Boat Festival is organized by Northwest Pensacola SERTOMA, a non-profit international organization of businesses and professionals working towards community improvement. They raise money through events like these for community service projects. Once again, the profits of the event this year will go towards the Gulf Coast Kid’s House, a non-profit organization that provides support to victims of child abuse. As an advocacy center, Gulf Coast Kid’s House provides a safe-haven for children of abuse while also providing the professional resources needed for investigating and prosecuting cases of child abuse. The organization also provides access to mental health counseling for the families they serve. Last year, SERTOMA raised over $30,000 for the Gulf Coast Kid’s House through this event. Stacey Kostevicki, Executive director of Gulf Coast Kid’s House is very enthusiastic about the upcoming event. She sees not only as a way to help her organization, but also as an event that enriches the local community through team work and a little friendly competition. “The Dragon Boat Festival is a really fun way to pull the community together for a competitive day on the water. The SERTOMA group just has a way of getting
things done. With their brains and the sweat equity from our volunteers, staff and board, it is a match made in heaven,” Kostevicki says. It’s due to the hard work of their volunteers and sponsors that this event has successfully grown over time. As the enthusiasm for this event continues to gain momentum, the hope is that more people will be drawn out in support of this cause. Currently, the goal is to expand from 40 to 70 participating teams and to draw crowds of up to 10,000 spectators. Meanwhile, those already committed to the cause are always ready to try new ways to raise funds to help support organizations like Gulf Coast Kid’s House. “It has come so far in the last few years – in large part due to the community support seen from Wind Creek and other corporate sponsors,” Kostevicki says. “This year, the Northeast Pensacola SERTOMA is trying a team fundraising approach—we’ve seen it be successful in other races across the country.” The Dragon Boat Race holds a special place in Kostevicki’s heart for other reasons as well. “It is really meaningful to me in the sense that GCKH comes together as a team—‘Forty Arms of Fury’—and gets to bond with the Cordova Rotary Dragonflies— who I’m a member of and who meet at GCKH, ” Kostevicki says. This year’s proceeds will go towards increased safety and security at Gulf Coast Kid’s House, so come out and give them some support! Just pick up an oar or cheer from the shore!
having fun & giving back
On your mark, get set, GIVE The capt’n Fun’s Bushwacker 5k will benefit big brothers big sisters of northwest florida by heidi TRavis
This month, giving back is as easy as lacing up your racing shoes! Capt’n Fun’s and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida are teaming up at Capt’n Fun’s Bushwacker 5K on August 5. The race begins at 7:30 am
sharp at the South Santa Rosa Recreation Center and finishes at Capt’n Fun Beach Club where there will be an after party. All proceeds of the race will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters.
The Bushwacker 5K is put on by the Capt’n Fun Runners, who have been running and hosting events for just about 30 years. Johnny Graves, a long-time member of the group once served on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters and orchestrated their partnership with the Captn’ Fun Runners. Last year, they raised over $200,000 dollars for Big Brothers Big Sisters and he says they hope to raise just as much this year. This is a cause Graves makes clear is close to his heart.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida has served the Pensacola area for over 28 years. They are a non-profit organization whose mission is to aid troubled children, typically from single-parent homes, and to provide guidance and one-on-one support. Big Brothers Big Sisters pairs an adult mentor, a Big, with a specific child, a Little, for monthly outings and activities they can enjoy together. According to Hannah Yager, Marketing and Special Events Coordinator at Big Brothers Big Sisters, these activities work to build a healthy, supportive connection with a child, which is exactly what these children need. “They may do a variety of activities together from working on school work to going to the beach. It’s all about developing a lasting friendship which will allow the mentors to encourage their Littles to succeed in life,” Yager says. Relationship building is at the core of Big Brothers Big Sister’s mission. Yager says it is these bonds which nurture the children and have the power to change their lives for the better. To these children, just being seen and heard can make all the difference. To be a Big Brother or Big Sister is not a complicated process, though it does have a few easy steps. Bigs must go through a volunteer screening process which involves an online application, solid references, a background check, and an interview. Once this screening process is complete, the organization pairs the Big with their Little. Last year, the organization helped 650 children in Northwest Florida. Yet, according to Yager, it’s just not enough. An organization like this requires ample
funding and manpower. That’s why events like the Bushwacker 5K are so important. With the support of the community, keeping an organization like Big Brothers Big Sisters afloat becomes a much easier task. Among other things, proper funding helps to streamline the process of matching Bigs to their Littles. “We depend on the money from fundraisers like the Bushwacker 5K to cover background screenings for volunteers and continued support for each relationship by a match specialist,” Yager says. But it isn’t only the screenings that can be costly. Simply maintaining the relationships between the Bigs and the Littles can be an enormous drain on their budget. The cost of a single match is staggering. “The proceeds from the Bushwacker 5K will allow us to match more children with caring, adult mentors. The average cost to support a match for one year is $1,000,” Yager says. And that’s only one match. With an area as large as Northwest Florida to serve, Big Brothers Big Sisters can use as many hands on deck as they can get. Unfortunately, help just seems to run a bit thin these days. “We are ALWAYS in need of more mentors. Our waiting list of children who are waiting for a Big hovers around 200,” Yager says. All the same, you don’t have to be a Big to help the Littles. Just showing up on race day can go a long way to help this cause. You can have fun and make a difference. Remember every “Little” bit counts, so grab your sneakers, and get to the starting line.
“As long as we keep doing it, the run will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters,” Graves says. Just the same, Graves is insistent that he and his group do not “go it alone.” He is very quick to point out that they’ve had tremendous support from the community and a lot of good help. “We’re kind of the driving force but we’ve got a really good relationship with the city of Gulf Breeze and their police department, Santa Rosa Island Authority, Escambia County Police Department, and Running Wild. We’ve been working with those guys since it all started. They help us, provide us with a lot of equipment and support,” Graves says. DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 11
having fun & giving back PLT has also helped Pensacon greatly over the past years, serving as a hall to hold Pensacon volunteer orientation, and more recently, as one of the venues Pensacon events are held in. In addition to music provided by local DJs and hors d’oeuvres provided by The Fish House, the ball will also feature a silent art auction from local artists such as Aliza Ray, ‘Famous’ Gabe Smith and Shauncey Fury, as well as illustrators and artists who participate in the Pensacon convention. The auction is done in a ‘Chinese’ style, where bidders purchase tickets to place on items, which are then raffled. If someone does not claim the item, another ticket is drawn and so on. “It all goes back to charity,” said Bishop. ‘The tickets and bar funds will go to PLT, and everything made in the auction will go to SouthBARK.”
Capes, Cowls and canes The Dress up or Dress up ball at the Pensacola Little Theatre will benefit Southbark animal rescue by tanner yea Among the old splendor of the Pensacola Little Theatre (PLT), high society will play in their suits and gowns, bidding on art pieces and enjoying fine cocktails. But among the tuxedos and tails is someone in even darker clothing and a flowing cape – Batman! This is all par for the course, as Pensacon takes over the Pensacola Little Theatre on August 26 for their Dress Up or Dress Up Costume Ball, an event benefiting Pensacola Little Theatre and SouthBARK Animal Rescue. “We hope this event will see the same enthusiasm that people have for Pensacon, and we really want it to benefit the community,” said Kat Bishop, the Director of Marketing and Guest Services at Pensacon and the head of the Dress Up or Dress Up committee.
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Dress Up or Dress Up is held as a normal ball or formal event, but with a twist: the outfits can either be formal or any kind of costume cosplay. Though this year is intended to have a DC Comics’ Gotham theme, Bishop said no fandom is excluded. “Last year we had a whole group show up in Civil War costumes, so nothing is out of place,” she said. Though this is only the second year the event has been held, it has already gained quite a bit of success. During last year’s event, the ball raised over $5000 for both the Pensacola Little Theatre and Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services of the Emerald Coast. This year, as part of Pensacon’s plan to rotate out their charity beneficiaries, the funds will be going to aid pet adoption, education and more at SouthBARK. “We had previously run some special movie events to raise money for SouthBARK, but we didn’t raise as much as we would have liked. So we wanted to help again to reach our goal,” said Bishop. “Plus, everyone loves animals, right?”
Bishop said one of the most important parts of the Dress Up or Dress Up ball is that it allows Pensacon to give back to the community that has helped them hold their convention so successfully every year. Even with that, organizations like Vinyl Music Hall, Manna Food Pantries, The Fish House and Ballet Pensacola have come forward to volunteer their help with the ball. “I’ll admit, the first year I had some doubts because we didn’t sell too many pre-sales. But when the event happened, there was so much support,” said Bishop. “The best part was when Mike Ensley (Pensacon chairman) announced last year during the event that we would be holding another ball this year; that meant a lot.” Bishop hopes that this event will become successful enough to be held annually, both to help give back to the community and to build up excitement for Pensacon. They plan to rotate out to give to other charities as well, such as Manna Food Pantries, Children’s Home Society of Florida and Girls on the Run. “We want people to dress up, have a great time and support these charities,” said Bishop. The Pensacon Dress Up or Dress Up Costume Ball will be held on August 26 at the Pensacola Little Theatre at 7 pm. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door, but space is limited. To purchase tickets, visit tinyurl.com/ DressUp2017. To learn more about the organizations being benefited, visit pensacolalittletheatre.com and southbarkanimalrescue.org.
having fun & giving back
Fest for a Cause Feeding the Urban Homeless Community Fest will Provide food, clothing and resources to homeless by Tanner Yea The urban homeless population has always been significant in our city, and in recent years they have come under scrutiny from the city of Pensacola through laws that hinder the underprivileged population. Many city residents see the issue in a different light, and strive to help the homeless whenever they can – along with having fun at the same time. One of these people is Bubbs Harris, who has created the Feeding the Urban Homeless Community Fest (FUHC Fest). Harris is a comedian and a father of three who has a history of throwing benefit shows and food drives. “I’m kind of a stubborn person and I was dead set on doing the biggest, best benefit I could conjure up. Luckily, I’ve been in the local music and entertainment scene for over a decade, so I started sending messages.” The homeless community of Pensacola has always been very personal to Harris, as he said he had been in their shoes before. He noted the most difficult part is that once a person becomes homeless, it is often very difficult to climb out of the situation without outside help. The benefit will run all evening on August 19, and will feature a variety of acts and events – including comedy, art and music. The Deadbeats of Comedy, a group of comedians who tour around the Southeast and which Harris is the founder, will be performing. “We’ve all worked together in one form or another, but never all five of us in one place at one time,” said Harris. “It’s going to be crazy!” The Deadbeats include JC Ratliff, Patrick Cunningham, Kurt Keller and Lance Adams. Other comedians performing include Wiley Farrar, J.W. Brogan and Se’cory “ATL” McLauren.The musical acts span across genres like rock, hip-hop, metal, indie, folk, pop and more. Bands such as Marona, Big Lo, Blight, Morn
Mongata, Posadist, Jamal Stelle, Dee Villain, Dee and the Domestics, Cookies & Cake, Good Night Geezer and Richard Gray and His Sinful Ways will perform. “There’s a common respect and bond between the local comedy and music scenes, and we often come together for mixed bills,” said Harris. “Once word got out about it, I had to start picking acts from tons of people who reached out.” There will also be a silent art auction with pieces by Harris, Justine Hamel, Famous Gabe and more. On top of that is a raffle offering prizes of tattoos, gift certificates and band merchandise. Harris said they are trying to keep the entire event as fun and interactive as possible in order to raise all they can for the cause at hand. All proceeds from the event will go towards local homeless shelters in order to provide beds and clothing for those in need, while all donated food and water items will go towards Food Not Bombs Pensacola. Harris believes that the best approach to take to help lessen the homeless population is to support charity organizations such as Food Not Bombs, Manna Food Pantries and local shelters who have direct contact to those in need. “These are human beings – probably with better stories than we could ever tell – and they need help, not hate. If we can’t get the city to take notice and help devise a solution, we will start our own movement and do it ourselves,” said Harris. “Make no mistake, almost everyone involved is not wealthy by any means. We are regular people – artists, mothers, fathers, musicians, humans. We want to help, and we are going to by pulling together and calling in favors.”
“I’m completely blown away by the response so far, I never expected that. I hope we draw a great crowd and get all kinds of walks of life together to do some good,” he said. FUHC Fest is set for August 19 at The Handlebar, located at 319 N Tarragona Street. Doors open at 6 pm and the show starts at 7 pm, with admission being $7 for 21+, and $10 for 20 and under.
How to Get Involved:
Harris not only believes in helping others, but he believes in tracking where the money goes. He plans to release updates on social media as to what the donations and money are going towards in order to have a sense of accountability for the funds.
Food and Water Donations: Contact Bubbs Harris at deadbeatsofcomedy@gmail.com or via Facebook to donate any nonperishable food or water. These items will be accepted at the Handlebar the week of the show as well.
There are also big plans for the future of FUHC Fest, as Harris wants to do a similar event in Mobile in the fall. He also hopes to do a yearly FUHC Fest in Pensacola to allow it to grow.
Monetary Donations: Send via PayPal to themighytbubbs@gmail.com, with FUHC in the note box. These donations can also be dropped off at the show.
DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 13
Celebrate National Book Lovers Day with Our Summer Reading Recommendations Calling all bibliophiles! August 9 is National Book Lover’s Day and we know the perfect way for you to celebrate – read! With so many wonderful choices— old and new and so little time, it isn’t always easy to decide just what to read. No worries, we’re here to help. We asked some of our staff what their go-to classics are and what upcoming releases have them excited. Here’s what they had to say:
memorable characters make this book an easy – if not slightly dark – summer read.
Hiero’s Journey Sterling Lanier Sterling Lanier is a bit of an unknown author in science fiction. Probably best known for helping get Frank Herbert’s Dune published, his most famous personal story is Hiero’s Journey. Set in the far future after an event called ‘The Death’ destroyed civilization, protagonist Per Hiero Desteen has been sent by his tribal elders to recover a mysterious ‘computer’ from the evil forces of The Brotherhood of the Unclean. With allies such as a mutant moose named Klootz and a psychic black bear named Gorm, Hiero travels across the remains of Canada and the United States, facing off against mutants, brigands and worse. A pulpy, fun read of high action, interesting world building and Cold War sensibilities.
Heidi’s LIST
book is both an interesting study on the human condition, as well as a fairly breezy speculative ‘what if?’ story. The back half of the book is honestly utterly depressing and emotionally exhausting – it will easily tear your heart out as you read about the rise and fall of Charlie. Inventive writing style, great pacing and 14 | DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM
The Book of Dust By Phillip Pullman In 1995, Phillip Pullman took us all on a trip to a parallel universe in the his Dark
For me, digging deep into the cultural factors that drive trolling behaviors is a fascinating study. Phillips’ book really probes at the historical and cultural factors that breed trolls and points the finger right back at Western society. She examines our culture – one driven by
Tanner’s List
Flowers for Algernon Daniel Keyes Originally written as a short story in 1959, Daniel Keyes fleshed out the story, turning it into a full novel in 1966. The story is about Charlie Gordon, a mentally-disabled adult who, after undergoing an experimental surgery, has his IQ shoot up from 68 to 185. This
comments on news threads. They get crude, hostile and down-right mean, spamming your feed with mockery and memes. By now, most of us have come to accept them as one of the many perils of an active online presence, but do we really understand them? What drives a troll? How did this phenomenon even take off? These are exactly the questions Dr. Whitney Phillips attempts to answer in her book This is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things: Mapping the Relationship Between Online Trolling and Mainstream Culture.
This is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things: Mapping the Relationship Between Online Trolling and Mainstream Culture By Dr. Whitney Phillips We’ve all experienced it at least once or twice in our lives: trolls – trolls are everywhere. The digi-verse is rife with them. They leave snarky, disparaging
Materials Trilogy. Though that world looked exactly like earth it was very, very different. In this version of earth, people’s souls – called daemons– live outside of human bodies and take the shapes of animals, and the world, and everything in it is made up of a mysterious substance called “dust.” In the original trilogy, readers followed the story of Lyra Belacqua, a little girl with the ability to decipher a strange compass-like item called an alethiometer. Lyra’s romping adventures through this world and into other dimensions searching for lost friends while uncovering truths about the very fabric of time and space kept fans with their eyes glued to the page. competition, one-ups-man-ship, instant gratification, and disconnection – and draws connections to troll behaviors. It isn’t always pretty. Sometimes it’s a bit like looking into a funhouse mirror, to see the ordinary suddenly warped and twisted into the grotesque, which is exactly what trolls do. All the same, it’s a fascinating read if you can stomach it and I highly recommend you do. It’s eye-opening!
Well, now she’s back.In the first installment of his upcoming trilogy, The Book of Dust, Pullman returns to Lyra’s world, tracking her story from infancy and following her journey to Oxford College, where she grows up. The second installment will purportedly skip 20 years and follow Lyra as an adult. Pullman has yet to reveal what the third installment will hold but he has been very explicit about one thing – this trilogy of books is
not a prequel or sequel. Phillip says it’s an “equel” and I can’t wait to find out exactly what that means. For those of us who fell in love with the original trilogy, it’s very exciting to go back and revisit this world, with all of its controversial mythologies and intriguing characters. Pullman has created a world so rich and complex that it definitely warrants a re-visit.
with a son, named for his absent father. What follows is a modern day fairy tale complete with haunted forests, unusual characters and mystical islands. Threaded with magic and illustrating the issues of our time, this enigmatic tale of love and loss is definitely at the top of my summer reading list.
Hana’s list
The Book of Dust comes out October 19, 2017 so if you haven’t read the original trilogy yet, there’s still plenty of time to catch up.
Franny and Zooey J.D. Salinger Amidst the flurry of rants, cigarettes, dissatisfaction and at least one existential crisis, is a tender, sympathetic
Carly’s List The Glass Castle By Jeanette Walls The Glass Castle has always felt like home to me, no matter how many times I’ve read it. It’s typically the first book that I recommend to others and I’ve gifted it at least a few times in hopes that a friend will find it as captivating and sincere as I do. In it, Walls, a former columnist for MSNBC.com, reflects on her unconventional childhood in a way that will make you gut laugh while also
simultaneously holding back tears. Although the lifestyles of her parents (and the lives they’ve provided for their children as a result) may make your blood boil at times, it takes a truly skilled writer like Walls to convince her audience that, while her parents might deserve our resentment at times, they also unquestionably deserve our compassion.
you’re musing on the meaning of life or love. Whether or not you’re able to relate to the characters, you’ll surely find “high delight” in their banter, musings, and general wry, hopefulness. Goodbye, Vitamin Rachel Khong I love a dark comedy, and what better time to read one than during the sweltering heat of the last month of summer! Read, sweat, laugh and cry all at the same time sitting beneath the summer sun. Goodbye, Vitamin follows a 30-year-old woman named Ruth who has just returned home to care for her ailing father, who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. She’s recently broken up with her fiancé, struggling with work, and as the full gravity of her father’s condition hits her, she attempts to find the comedy in the situation, wherever she can. I expect to laugh, but I also expect to hold back tears. The book has rave reviews from both the New York Times and writer Miranda July, leading me to believe it will be weird and uncomfortable enough to leave a mark on me, without completely dampening a lazy summer day.
The Glass Castle starring Brie Larson and Woody Harrelson will be released in theaters nationwide on August 11. Read the book first! The Changeling: A Novel By Victor LaValle While skimming the internet for that perfect summer read, this book immediately attracted my attention. It’s been called a “smart and knotty merger of horror, fantasy and realism” which definitely doesn’t strike me as easy reading material for the beach, but I digress. Written by Victor LaValle, it follows the story of Apollo Kagwa, a rare book dealer whose father seemingly vanishes into thin air. Despite being tortured by the loss of his father, Apollo eventually finds himself happily married
Love to read? Wondering what to do with all those old books once you’ve finished with them? Donate them to a good cause! Here are a few suggestions for organizations that can always use a little extra support.
West Florida Public Library
portrait of two young people who are struggling to come to terms with their lives. The book is comprised of two short novellas, Franny, followed by Zooey, and although they each include similar references to one another, they’re very different and were originally published years apart. I love J.D. Salinger, but there’s something in particular about Franny and Zooey that I find both charming and heartbreaking. It’s a quick and easy read, perfect for a beach day or an afternoon in the park—especially if
Open Books
Goodwill Donation Center
239 N Spring St, Pensacola, FL 850-436-5060
1040 N Guillemard St, Pensacola, FL 850-453-6774
600 E Cervantes St, Pensacola, FL 850-941-2966
The Friends of the Library collect books year round. Donations are used in Friends of the Library book sales which raise funds for library operations and supplies. Just drop off your books at any WFPL branch during normal business hours.
Donations to this non-profit, volunteer-run bookstore help to support the Prison Book Project, which sends thousands of books to inmates in Florida prisons.
This non-profit organization accepts a multitude of items including clothing, housewares, furniture, toys and books. Visit any Goodwill location to make your donation. DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 15
16 | DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM
Seville Quarter’s Golden Jubilee Celebration by Heidi Travis
S
eville Quarter, the Gulf Coast’s premier entertainment and dining complex is turning 50 and that means 10 days of celebration from August 11–21. On August 16, 1967 Bob Snow—talented trumpeter, Dixieland band-leader, ex-navy pilot and jack of all trades—embraced his entrepreneurial spirit and bought the old Pensacola Cigar and Tobacco Company warehouse on Government Street and transformed it into a thriving Dixieland club that came to be known as Rosie O’Grady’s Good Time Emporium. Snow built off of Rosie’s success over the years, and with the help of Wilmer Mitchell, turned Seville Quarter into the entertainment and dining mecca that it is today. The rest is history. But what is the secret to Seville’s success? How have they managed to stay on top for the last 50 years? “I definitely credit that to the locals in Pensacola feeling Seville Quarter is their home. The locals have gotten us through hard times and great times and they feel safe and secure here at Seville Quarter,” says Buck Mitchell, who is in charge of special events and marketing at Seville Quarter. “We also put out a great product. We have the best music on the Gulf Coast. We are the Gulf Coast entertainment destination since 1967. It’s not easy, but we have a wonderful staff. Some of them have been with us for over 30 years,” Mitchell says. The Mitchell family took over operations at Seville Quarter in 1988 and they’ve been going strong since. To them, Seville is more than a smart business venture though – it’s a legacy. “We just try to keep what Bob built looking good and keep our local customers happy and hope that they enjoy the entertainment that we’re putting out,” Mitchell says. All of that hard work has paid off, too. Seville Quarter has been recognized multiple times by Nightclub and Bar Magazine as being among the top 100 nightclubs in America. Seville has also received stellar reviews from Frommer’s Travel Guides, Celebration Events Friday, August 11 Jubilee Celebration Kick-off Saturday, August 12 Membership Appreciation Night Sunday, August 13 Jazz Brunch with Kathy Lyon and Friends
Independent News, and Rukus. It seems like the Good Time Gang – the Seville employees – definitely keep the good times coming! Another part of Seville’s success has been their uncanny ability to stay connected to the community. Susie Lyon, Event Coordinator at Seville Quarter shared thoughts on that delicate balance of branching out while staying true to their roots. “It’s amazing how it’s evolved. The owners and managers are constantly reinventing themselves. They’re always looking for what they can do that’s new. How can we reach out to the current population while respecting what went before,” Lyon says. “We’re constantly looking at what’s out there. What do the customers want? Where are they going to be the most comfortable?” Furthermore, Pensacola is and has been a military town since the birth of Seville. It was actually flight school which first brought Bob Snow to Pensacola. For that reason, serving the military is essential to Seville’s mission. “We’ve always had a good presence with the military. More than them just coming and having a cold beer. We’ve also had a lot of other outreach. Right now, the Running of the Bulls is for the USO. We’ve always had just a really great rapport with the military,” Lyon says. “I think that’s because the Mitchells and the Williams family who are the current owners, are Pensacola natives and they have a great respect for what the military has meant for Pensacola.” Mitchell echoes these sentiments as well and stresses the impact military has had on their success is not in the least bit small. “Seville Quarter wouldn’t be here today without the support of the military. We currently go above and beyond to try and take care of our military guests and make them feel that this is their place,” Mitchell says. “We have people who come in every day and
Monday, August 14 Blues Society rolls back the Clock Tuesday, August 15 Vince Vance and the Valients Jazz Night with Geno & Guests Wednesday, August 16 Rosie O’Grady’s 50th Birthday Recreation of the 1967 Opening Night
say ‘I trained here in the 70s and Seville quarter was my home.‘ ‘I trained here in the 80’s and Seville Quarter was my home.’ ‘I trained here in the 90’s and Seville Quarter was my home.’ You see the different generations come through. They feel comfortable here. They feel at home and that’s what makes it fun.” So what lies in store for Seville’s next 50 years? Currently, construction has begun in the old City Hall Annex across the street from Seville for what will be an upscale steak house which should open up in early 2018. Still, the potential for even more expansion on the Seville campus is one that Mitchell says is always on the radar. “Downtown is growing like crazy. There are certainly lots and lots of possibilities and the future is where we’re going,” Mitchell says. So, head out to Seville this August and give a toast in celebration to the past, present, and future of this incredibly successful local treasure. They’re not just good, they’re 50 years golden! Cheers!
Thursday, August 17 Good Time Gang Reunion Friday, August 18 Seville Quarter Gallery Night Saturday, August 19 DJ Showcase (potentially featuring Tony Allen)
Sunday, August 20 Brunch with the sounds of Charlie Cetti and the 1st City Dixieland Jazz Band Monday, August 21 Pensacola Jazz Gumbo presents Dixieland DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 17
Albums: What we’re listening to this month Japanese Breakfast Soft Sounds from another planet
Clutch psychic warfare Weathermaker music
by tanner yea – Normally I tend to write about new releases that have interested me, but not this month. Aside from the new Tyler the Creator release, which I haven’t finished listening to, nothing has jumped out and grabbed me. Instead, I have been on quite the stoner metal/sludge metal/doom metal kick, and have recently picked up Clutch’s latest album from my friendly local record store. Clutch is basically a Maryland extension of the Palm Desert, California music scene that bloomed in the 90s – a scene that gave us bands like Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age and Eagles of Death Metal. Psychic Warfare is Clutch’s 11th album and alternates between a wide array of genres. Though the basics of stoner metal and even blues rock form a solid foundation, songs like “Firebirds!” stray almost into power metal territory, while “Son of Virginia” is somewhat blue-grassy. Clutch has had 25 years to perfect their sound, and the heavy groove riffs, powerful vocal growls and chest-beating drums rhythms make this perfect music to
Dead Oceans
scream down a desert highway in. Other stoner metal bands may have a more epic or drawn out sound, but Clutch delivers a fast and hard hitting record I keep coming back to – even if it can stray into cheesiness at times.
STANDOUT TRACKS:
X-Ray Visions Firebirds! Our Lady of Electric Light
by Carly Stone – In it’s opening track, Soft Sounds from Another Planet makes it abundantly clear that Michelle Zauner wants it all. And why shouldn’t she have it all? Soft Sounds is warm, yet full of disconnect. It’s sweet and bitter. It’s spacey but oftentimes brings you right back down to Planet Earth. Originally touted as a concept album about the cosmos or a “science fiction musical”, it’s pretty apparent that Zauner spent a lot of time contemplating the otherworldly in a very ordinary way while writing her sophomore album. “Diving Woman” tells the story of the female divers of Jeju Island who spend their days diving for abalone and oysters to sell at the market. In “Machinist”, the first single from the album, a woman falls in love with a robot and pleads with it “Do you trust me? Can you feel it? It could be bliss.” While Soft Sounds might not be the space opera we were promised, it’s big
sounds and bright vocals are a perfect match for staring up at the stars and wondering what could have been, or what could be. As the title track suggests, maybe we’re all just dreaming of being anywhere but here. “In search of a soft sound from another planet / In search of a quiet place to lay this to rest / Striving for goodness while the cruel men win / There’s no part of me left that can feel or hear it.”
STANDOUT TRACKS:
Diving Woman Soft Sounds from Another Planet Boyish
Movie reviews (based solely on the trailer) BY TANNER YEA
detroit
dark tower
Detroit is the story of the 1967 Detroit Riots, one of the most deadly and destructive riots in the history of the US. Specifically, it’s about the Algier Motel incident. John Boyega, of Star Wars fame, is set to play Melvin Dismukes – a security guard that ended up embroiled in the whole incident. Obviously, the Detroit riots were quite a bit before my time, but they’ve always been talked about in a hushed whisper – a dark time that no one seems to want to talk about. Boyega is also the only really huge ‘star’ of this movie, so I always enjoy upcoming actors getting a chance at something big. Plus, the movie is directed by Kathryn Bigelow, the director of The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty – that’s as good a sign as any that this will be an emotional wartime drama.
Though Stephen King is best known for his horror stories, his self-proclaimed magnum opus is The Dark Tower – a fantasy-sci-fi-horror-western that saw its first book in 1982. Finally out of development hell, The Dark Tower features Idris Elba as The Gunslinger, a mysterious pseudo-mythic cowboy out to stop The Man in Black, played by Matthew McConaughey, from destroying the reality of Mid-World through the destruction of the Dark Tower. Don’t worry, I also do not know what any of that means. What I do know is that the series is a complicated, interdimensional story that delves into heady subjects, both morally and fantastically. The movie, however, is PG-13 and being pushed as a big budget action movie. From the reputation the books have, I feel this movie may have been in Hollywood committee for too long.
August 4
18 | DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM
august 4
HAIM Something to tell you
metric fantasies
Last gang records
polydor records
BY HALEY WEAVER – The girls are back. Rewind to 2013: I’m 17, it’s been a lonely year, and I first hear HAIM via a Twitter recommendation. Their album Days Are Gone isn’t even out yet, it’s all EPs, but I am immediately taken with them. Now fast forward four years, and I still feel a flutter in my chest listening to them or watching them perform. HAIM is so versatile that it’s difficult to pigeonhole their style and sound, besides crediting them as a sister rock band with a pop edge. Days Are Gone was an exciting album, full of surprises and pride, which makes a follow-up hard to pull off. Something To Tell You is strong, but in a different way, like a new take on the familiar rather than something revolutionary. It’s a soft(er)-rock, seventies-inspired album with less of the pop edge we’ve seen in the past, and requires a second listen through to really hit home because they’re easing us in to a series of small experiments rather than dragging us through a closed door. Tracks like “Want You Back” and “Little of Your Love” hold the same pop values we’ve come to love from them, while “You
Never Knew” sounds ripped from Tango in the Night and “Kept Me Crying” fearlessly owns its blues rock roots. Every guitar shred, every instance of driving intricate percussion is played by them and only them, which makes a track like “Something to Tell You” even dreamier. The album lands, quietly but noticeably. HAIM is the musical version of Wonder Woman, for me (and I think, many others): hope I didn’t know I needed, filling me with so much pride it brings tears to my eyes.
STANDOUT TRACKS:
Kept Me Crying Something to Tell You Little of Your Love
by heidi travis – Eight years later, I am still listening to this album. It’s solid! Though Metric has released two albums since, neither quite satisfies the way the 2009 Fantasies does. Fantasies has staying power, no question. It never feels dated. There is just a vibrant energy that runs through each and every track and the musical undertow pulls you in from start to finish. While later installments from the band have had some standout tracks surely, Fantasies comes as a full package. It packs upbeat, high-energy tracks into a mix with moody, dark undertones and the result is a versatile, introspective production that arrests your attention and hits in all the right “feels.” Not only that, Fantasies, like most of Metric’s previous works, is an album that warrants repeat listens to fully grasp. Even now, this album still leaves me musing over certain lyrics, which I love! Though it’s ridiculously hard to pick a favorite, there are a few tracks that I definitely have on repeat. Among these are “Sick Muse,” “Satellite Mind,” “Gimme Sympathy,” and “Blindness” – but really, you just cannot go wrong with this al-
bum on the whole. The juxtaposition of Emily Haine’s sweet vocals against their synthpop, new-wave sound is always a win for me.
STANDOUT TRACKS:
Sick Muse Satellite Mind Gimme Sympathy Blindness
BY HALEY WEAVER
The Glass Castle August 11
Based off the memoir by Jeanette Walls, this film stars Woody Harrelson, Brie Larson, and Naomi Watts, and follows Jeanette through her tumultuous childhood and adult life with two very dysfunctional parents. It’s already spotty territory when the film is based off a novel, especially one as quietly heartbreaking as this, so it’s hard to tell if they’ll do it justice. Just through the trailer, though, this film portrays the consequences of throwing your children into the proverbial deep end too early, while also emphasizing the importance of loving who and where you came from. Even if they don’t get everything from the book shot for shot (they won’t), it looks beautiful and sad and guaranteed to inspire a few tears.
Only living boy in New york August 11
Marc Webb directs this film, ripped from the Simon and Garfunkel song of the same name, and due to his previous work with Gifted and 500 Days of Summer, it’s got my attention immediately. A young man in hipster glasses muddles through life in New York, and it’s got all the fixings for a great coming of age story: unrequited love for his best friend, advice from his older, wiser neighbor (Jeff Bridges), and an upended adventure in love with his father’s (Pierce Brosnan) mistress (Kate Beckinsale). Even if the plot turns out to be as cliché and frustrating as it sounds, the trailer promises an aesthetically pleasing film about the foolishness of love, young and old. This’ll sound silly, but I can’t wait.
DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 19
SEPTEMBER 1–3 and 7–10, 2017
showtimes: THURSDAY–SATURDAY 7:30 PM / SUNDAY 3 PM tickets: $15–31/ ALL TICKETS 1/2 PRICE ON THEATRE THURSDAYS!
FOR TICKETS AND MORE INFORMATION, VISIT PENSACOLALITTLETHEATRE.COM OR CALL THE BOX OFFICE AT 850-432-2042 NIGHT WATCH is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc. New York.
having fun & giving back
A convention for everyone Pensacola comic Con will benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest FLorida by tanner yea
Summer is the time of action, fantasy and science fiction, and this year is no different. From Spiderman to Game of Thrones to Valerian, there is something to spark anyone’s imagination. And what better way to experience the best in entertainment than by visiting the Pensacola Comic Convention. From August 18 to 20, Pensacola Comic Convention will be bringing the best of science fiction, horror, fantasy, paranormal, gaming, comics and more to the Pensacola Interstate Fair Grounds Expo Hall. Ericka Boussarhane is the original promoter of the event and also brought the convention to the area. “The convention allows people of different diversities to come together and feel like they belong,” said Boussarhane. The convention originally started as a convention with a focus on the paranormal and ghost hunting, but has since branched out to other genres since their initial opening in 2010. Pensacola Comic Convention will see some notable names in the entertainment industry. Guests include Scott Steiner, professional wrestler and three-time world champion; Jackson Rathbone, star of the Twilight Saga and the Last Airbender; Corbin Bernsen of Star Trek, Psych and LA Law fame; and the stars of TLC’s paranormal investigation series, Ghost Brothers. More important than the guests and panels is what Pensacola Comic Convention will be benefitting, as they have teamed up with the Ronald McDonald House in order to benefit local children and their families. Boussarhane said that many of the celebrities set to appear at the convention are going to tour the Ronald McDonald House in order to bring some joy and excitement to both the children and their parents. In addition, Broward Batman will also be visiting the house, pulling up in the Batmobile from the Michael Keaton films. Boussarhane said the main goal of Pensacola Comic Con is not just to have fun and provide a place for passionate people to get together, but to also offer it at an affordable price. “I used to own a daycare, and I had parents without a lot of options on places to take their children on the summer months. We wanted to keep it affordable and family-fun,” she said.
In addition to admission being only $10 for children and $20 for adults per day, Boussarhane prides herself in the guests also being accessible and easy to approach. Many of them offer hands-on workshops or personal interactions that they may not normally have time for at larger cons. “There are people who appreciate the artistry and the hobbies, and there is opportunity to network,” said Boussarhane. “It also helps gets kids interested in literature and science, or hobbies they wouldn’t normally see.” The convention will additionally feature guest panels, exhibitions from belly dancer and balloon artists, gaming for both video and tabletop games, comic and traditional artists and a costume contest. Staying true to Pensacola Comic Con’s roots, there will also be ghost tours offered during the weekend. On August 18, Go Retro will be offering a tour of Haunted Historic Pensacola; and on August 19, the Ghost Brothers will host a paranormal investigation at the old Imogene Theater. Boussarhane said the event has grown each year in numbers of fans, guests and events, and she only hopes for more in the future. “We want to continue growing, but the main reason we are here is to give back to the community through our charities,” she said. The Pensacola Comic Convention will be held from August 18 to 20, from 10 am to 6 pm, at the Pensacola Interstate Fair Grounds Expo Hall. Adult passes are $20 per day, children’s passes are $10 a day, and children seven years or younger have free admission. Law enforcement, EMS, firefighters and military members gain admission for $15 with active duty ID. VIP and VIP Platinum tickets are available online as well. For more information, including a full list of guests, events, panels and more, and to purchase tickets, visit pensacolacomiccon.com. DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 21
WHAT ARE YOU MADE OF? Teens have the power to create impact beyond themselves. What will you discover in the process? Visit MYCHAINREACTION.ORG
BRAD [18] & BETHANNE [17] SERVICE RUSH BEAUTIFICATION INITIATIVE
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D atel i n e D o w n t o w n Vinyl Music Hall
Vinyl Music Hall hosts a variety of events, and June features original artists, events and once-in-alifetime entertainment. For more information and to purchase tickets for any of these events, visit vinylmusichall.com. August 3 – Passafire August 4 – Wanda Jackson – The QUEEN of Rockabilly August 5 – The Surfaris August 11 - $5 Local Showcase w/ Serena’s Fire, Chemtrail, Gone With The Flesh August 12 – Maiden Immortal – Tribute to Iron Maiden August 15 – Mayday! – Search Party Tour August 16 – Authority Zero with Special Guests: The Supervillains August 17 – Corey Smith August 19 – Big Deal Burlesque August 20 – Kap G & J.R. Donato – SupaJefe Tour August 25 – The Cured – Tribute To The Cure
Saenger Theatre
The Saenger Theatre is starting to show their Classic Movies Series in July, some come out and see some cinema from yesteryear. For more information and to purchase tickets for any of these events, visit pensacolasaenger. com August 5: Saenger Classic Movie Series Presents: The Big Sleep August 12: Saenger Classic Movie Series Presents: Viva Las Vegas August 19: Saenger Classic Movie Series Presents: The Princess Bride August 26: Saenger Classic Movie Series Presents: Dial M for Murder
Blue Wahoos
Pensacola’s own Blue Wahoos continue their 2017 season with a month full of exciting games in the Southern League. All the games listed are home games at Blue Wahoo Stadium. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit bluewahoos.com 24 | DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM
August 10-14: vs. Mobile BayBears August 21-25: vs. Jackson Generals August 26-30: vs. Mississippi Braves
Metaphor as Manifestation
Through August 27 An exhibition of works by Jasper Johns (b. 1930) and Robert Motherwell (1915-1991), two very significant and well-known artists of the post-World War II and contemporary periods at the Pensacola Museum of Art. The exhibition features prints produced in cross-disciplinary collaborative efforts between Motherwell and the Spanish poet Rafael Alberti (1902-1999); and Jasper Johns and the avant-garde novelist and poet Samuel Beckett (19061989.) For more information, visit pensacolamuseum.org.
cated in the beautiful Gulfside Pavilion overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, the series features regional artists performing a wide variety of music. Bring your lawn chair and join us every summer for hot music, smooth grooves and a whole lot of good times. Bands on the Beach begin at 7 pm. This month features Southern Breeze on August 1, The Rowdies on August 8, Class X on August 15, The Scenic Heights on August 22 and The Blenders on August 29. For more information, visit visitpensacolabeach.com.
National Night Out 2017
August 1 National Night Out is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; generate support for and participation in local anti-crime efforts; strengthen neighborhood Piece by Piece: Art spirit and police-community with LEGO Brick partnerships; and send a mesby Sean Kenney sage to criminals letting them Through September know neighborhoods are orgaPiece by Piece, an exhibition of nized and fighting back. National art with LEGO® Bricks by NYC- Night Out is a great way for famibased artist Sean Kenney em- ly, friends and neighbors to stand phasizes the nostalgic play of together to promote healthy lifechildhood created with childhood styles and safer neighborhoods. toys. This interactive exhibition The celebration will include free engages the subject matter and food and refreshments, music, aesthetics of the everyday. Rub- raffle prizes and plenty of activiber ducks, robots, tricycles and ties for kids. Festivities start at 6 bicycles all work together to bring pm at 1301 W Gregory Street. For childhood nostalgia back to life. more information, visit escambiAccompanying the exhibition is aso.com. an interactive LEGO maker-space that aims to engage visitors of all ages in the process of making by Bacon and Bourbon turning the gallery space into an Five Course Menu activated lab for creativity. For Prestige more information, visit pensaco- August 2 lamuseum.org. The Union Public House is offering a decadent five course meal. Each meal will feature bacon as a Throughout August main ingredient in the delectable Pensacola Beach’s popular out- dishes, and each will be served door summer concert series, with a sampling of some of the Bands on the Beach, features finest bourbon available. Resa lineup of performers sure to ervations are $90 plus tax, and please every musical taste. Lo- seating is limited, so call 850-
Bands on the Beach
Catch Wanda Jackson at Vinyl Music Hall on Aug. 4. 607-6320 to reserve your space today. For more information, visit unionpensacola.com
Wanda Jackson at Vinyl Music Hall
August 4 Wanda Lavonne Jackson is an American singer, songwriter, pianist and guitarist who had success in the mid-1950s and 1960s as one of the first popular female rockabilly singers and a pioneering rock-and-roll artist. She is known to many as the “Queen of Rockabilly” or the “First Lady of Rockabilly”. Jackson mixed country music with fast-moving rockabilly, often recording them on opposite sides of a record. As rockabilly declined in popularity in the mid-1960s, she moved to a successful career in mainstream country music with a string of hits between 1966 and 1973, including “Tears Will Be the Chaser for Your Wine”, “A Woman Lives for Love” and “Fancy Satin Pillows”. Show starts at 7 pm. For more
information and to purchase tickets, visit vinylmusichall.com.
Hill-Kelly Movies In the Park Series
August 4 The Hill-Kelly Movies in the Park Series Presented by Cox will return to the Community Maritime Park with free movies once each month! Bring your blankets and chairs then spread out on the lawn to watch a family-friendly movie underneath the stars. Movies begin at sunset and free event parking begins at 6 pm. Come hungry because concessions are available from local food trucks, but picnic baskets are welcome. No pets, or glass containers please. August’s movie of choice is The Lego Batman Movie.
Back 2 School Bash
August 4 Presented by Real Women Radio, My Brothers & Sisters and Teen Focus Community Development, Bayview Park will light up with
Dateline Downtown petitions. Guests this year include Corbin Bernsen, Scott Steiner, Hector David Jr. and more! For more information and to purchase tickets, visit pensacolacomiccon.com.
free food, school supplies, and fun as we prepare to send our kids back to school with a final bash. The party will last from 5 to 7 pm, so come out and enjoy the fun while you can! For more information, visit realwomenradio.com.
Matchbox Twenty at The Wharf
Cats at Pensacola Little Theatre
August 4-6 Directed by Roxie Alyssa Smith, Katelyn Geri, and Kathy Johansen, Cats is a theatre favorite and Broadway record holder. The full on musical based on T.S. Elliott’s poems will feature the best of our local dancers and character actors. Held at Pensacola Little Theatre, this musical’s inventive story and catchy songs have become known around the world. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit pensacolalittletheatre.com
Bushwacker 5k
August 5 Sign up for this rockin’ summer race to beautiful Pensacola Beach. Cool off afterwards at Capt’n Funs on the Boardwalk. Wear your bib for free refreshments. Food! Fun! Music & Party! This point to point run benefits Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Northwest Florida! The event starts at the Gulf Breeze Recreation center at 7:30 am. Don’t forget to attend the post-race party at the Capt’n Fun Beach Club on Quietwater Boardwalk. For more information and to register, visit werunwild.com.
Blue Angel Music Blues on the Bay
August 6, August 20 The waterfront Community Maritime Park Hunter Amphitheater at Pensacola’s Community Maritime Park is home to Blues on the Bay throughout the summer. Concerts are held on Sunday nights when our Blue Wahoos baseball team is not playing a home game at the park. Concerts are familyfriendly and concessions are
August 18 More than 20 years ago, Matchbox Twenty broke See Matchbox Twenty Aug. 18 at the Wharf into the rock scene with their breakout album, Youravailable. Bring coolers, blankets mission to the movie is free and self or Someone Like You. Now and lawn chairs but leave glass open to the public. For more inforthey are touring in celebration of containers and pets at home. mation, visit margaritavillehotel. two decades together, stopping Concerts begin at 6 p.m. and are com at The Wharf Amphitheater in free and open to the public. AuOrange Beach on August 18. Set gust’s concerts include The Re- The First Tee Night at to play classics like Long Day and union Band on August 6 and Not Back 2 Good, the band show will the Blue Wahoos Quite Fab on August 20. For more cover the ups and downs of the August 11 information, visit pensacolacombands history together. They will The First Tee of Northwest Florida munitymaritimepark.com. is partnering with the Pensacola also be supported by Matt NaBlue Wahoos on August 21 when thanson. For more information Sturgeon Full Moon the Wahoos take on the Jackson and to purchase tickets, visit alPaddle Generals at Home! Tickets cost wharf.com August 6 just $10 and a portion of all ticket What better way to enjoy the light sales go directly to The First Tee Memorial Placement of the full Sturgeon moon than of Northwest Florida’s junior proCeremony by paddleboard or kayak? Join grams and events. Participants August 19 us Sunday, August 6 at 7:30 pm of The First Tee who are in attenOn August 19, 2017, at 10 am, on at Bayview Park as we paddle dance of the game will have time the fifth anniversary of the Mainto the sunset and under the for player autographs, photos, rine Aviation Memorial Bell Tower moon. The ‘sturgeon moon’ re- and get to take the field with the dedication to the greater Penfers to the August nights when Wahoos just before the game! sacola Bay community, the Vetthe moon shines brightly, named One participant in attendance of erans Memorial Park Foundation because Native American tribes the game will have the opportuof Pensacola will host a memowould readily catch sturgeon nity to throw out the first pitch! rial ceremony for the fallen Main this month. All skill levels are Tickets are available through the rine aircrews of HMLA-469 Venwelcome, from beginners to long- Blue Wahoo website. For more geance 01, HMH-463 Pegasus 31 time veterans. For more informa- information and to purchase tick& 32, and Blue Angel 6. For more tion and to reserve a spot, visit ets, visit thefirstteenwflorida.org. information, visit veteransmemoseacrestfitnesscompany.com rialparkpensacola.com.
Movies Under the Stars
Through August 9 The Movies Under the Stars Series offers family friendly movies that begin at dusk every Wednesday evening during the summer at LandShark Landing at 165 Ft. Pickens Rd. Just bring your blankets and lawn chairs and we will provide the margaritas and tacos! The show starts at 8pm, and ad-
Pensacola Comic Con 2017
August 18-20 On August 18, 19, and 20 (10 AM -6 PM) Pensacola Comic Con™ will be held at the Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds, catering to fandoms of all kinds! We will offer celebrity meet and greets, discussion panels, workshops, screenings, demonstrations, events, gaming, costume contests, tournaments, and com-
be provided by The Portabello Market. Tickets for individuals are $15, or you can purchase a table of 8 for $100. The meeting starts at 11 am at the First Baptist Church of Pensacola. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit UnitedWayEscambia.org
White Tie Rock Ensemble: The Beatles’ Abbey Road
August 25 The White Tie Rock Ensemble presents a tribute to The Beatles’ Abbey Road a the Saenger Theatre. Featuring the unparalleled White Tie Sound, this full rock band, along with the Tied Up String Quartet will recreate all your favorites from this classic era of rock and roll. In a rock theater environment, with an expanded and enhanced Light and Sound Experience, these timeless bands will live again, passed from one generation to the next and enjoyed by all! For more information and to purchase tickets, visit pensacolasaenger.com
Pensacon: Dress Up or Dress Up
August 26 Pensacon presents the second “Dress Up or Dress Up” Costume Ball fundraiser! The ball will take place on Saturday, August 26th from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Pensacola Little Theatre. Come “dressed up” in your best costume, cosplay, cocktail or formal wear – all are welcome! Enjoy hors d’oeuvres, drinks from the cash bar, live entertainment, and dancing in the ballroom. Peruse the art on display, and get ready to bid for a great organization during 2016-2017 United our silent (Chinese Auction style) Way Annual Meeting and live art auctions! All ticket August 24 sales and monies raised at this Join us and learn how your dol- event will be donated to Pensaclars and volunteer service made ola Little Theatre and SouthBARK a difference in Escambia County! Animal Rescue. For more inforThe Annual Meeting will feature mation and to purchase tickets, a keynote address from Wendy visit pensacolalittletheatre.com Spencer, CEO of Leadership Florida. Outstanding community leaders will be recognized for their distinguished service. Lunch will DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 25
Date l i n e D o w n t o w n 2017 Pensacola Cattle Baron’s Ball
August 26 The Cattle Barons’ Ball is a one-of-a-kind event celebrating 17 years in Pensacola. This year’s event promises to honor the Cattle Barons’ tradition as one of the premiere fundraising events in our community. You can count on gourmet western food stations and the city’s best live and silent auctions in a festive, themed atmosphere. Proceeds will go towards research and funding for the American Cancer Society. The festivities kick off at 6 pm. For more information, visit tinyurl.com/cattlebaron2017
Preemie Cup – A Day of Play on the Water
August 26 Preemie Cup, A Day of Play on the Water, presented by Pediatrix Medical Group and Wind Creek Atmore, is a Sacred Heart Foundation event benefitting the Neo-
Photography By East Hill Photo Makeup By: Kat O’ Connor Shot at Studio One Pensacola
natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) we want you to help us pick the priced and dropped off items for at The Studer Family Children’s best of the best. Each bartender kids of all ages from Newborns Hospital at Sacred Heart. Partic- will be given one spirit and one to Tween and everything in beipants can choose to participate special ingredient that they tween. Don’t miss the event, our in the Preemie Paddle Relay, the must combine in the cocktail, Fall sale will be record breakPreemie Regatta or even Pree- anything else is up to their imagi- ing. Located at 800 W Nine Mile mie Fishing Tournament. Not nation. This year we will be co- Road, the event will be held from only is this a fun day, but it has hosting with Krewe of St. Patrick 10 am to 7 pm through the four a tremendous impact as pro- and the USBG Pensacola. For days. For more information and ceeds will be used to construct $25 you will be able to taste all of a full schedule, visit lullabiesandall private rooms in the new 72 the bartender’s cocktails, enjoy mudpies.com. bed Level II and Level III NICUs in free food, taste samples from the new Studer Family Children’s our beer and liquor partners and Pensacola Poetry Affordable 24/7 Studio Equipment Hospital at Sacred Heart. The help the Krewe ofRental St. PatrickClasses & Workshops event starts on 9 am on August raise funds. The competition Open Mic 26, but there is also a Pre-Party starts at 2 pm. For more infor- August 8 Another month of Pensacola at Lee House“Being on August 24 at 6for East mation andPhoto, to purchase tickets, a stylist Hill I have come toPoetry. appreciate Come the out and join in. pm. For more information or to visit orileyspub.com professionalism Studio One Pensacola has to offer. From their Whether you’re a first timer register, visit preemiecup.com wanting to share your own flexible studio hours to being conveniently located downtown, Lullabies & Mudpies words, or wanting to share some makes my job easy. Plus, Studio One BartenderStudio One Pensacola Consignment a writer you admire, our Pensacola has a greatKids variety of equipment rentals from available to their Championship open mic is free for all. No cost. Event clients. I would highly recommend Studio One Pensacola to allNo my August 27 No censorship. judgements. August 30 – September 2 fellow peers, clients and friends.” It is time again for your favorite The night begins on August 8 at Over 700 families selling gently bartenders and barbacks from loved items over only a 4 day 6 pm at Constant Coffee & Tea. ~ Michele, East Hill Style & Coaching around Pensacola to show their period We have everything or- For more information, visit faceskills. O’Riley’s Irish Pub Down- ganized like a department store book.com/pensacolapoetry town is hosting the 3rd annual without the retail prices. Local Bartending Championship and moms and dads have prepped,
Bike Pensacola’s August Slow Ride
August 26 Please mark your calendars for the August Slow Ride! These rides are designed for people with any kind of bike and any skill level. Each ride will be 1 – 1 ½ hours long, at a casual pace. Nobody will be “dropped” or left behind. This month we’re starting and finishing at Waterboyz-an amazing locally-owned business and a supporter of many great community projects. They’ll have refreshments, cafe specials, and more as part of the post-ride party, so plan to stay after for fun and fellowship with other cyclists. The ride starts at Waterboyz Surf & Skate Shop at 6 pm. For more information, visit facebook.com/bikepensacola
Studio One
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Actual Model: Brooke W. Behind the Scenes with East Hill Photo At Studio One Pensacola
Classes & Workshops
“Being a stylist for East Hill Photo, I have come to appreciate the professionalism Studio One Pensacola has to offer. From their flexible studio hours to being conveniently located downtown, Studio One Pensacola makes my job easy. Plus, Studio One Pensacola has a great variety of equipment rentals available to their clients. I would highly recommend Studio One Pensacola to all my fellow peers, clients and friends.” ~ Michele, East Hill Style & Coaching
Studio One Photography By East Hill Photo Makeup By: Kat O’ Connor Shot at Studio One Pensacola
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103 West Intendencia Street
850-712-0639
@StudioOnePensacola
Actual Model: Brooke W. Behind the Scenes with East Hill Photo At Studio One Pensacola
Keep Our Friends Safe Adopt-A-Manatee
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Quayside Art Gallery 17 E. Zarragossa Street, Pensacola, Florida 850-438-2363 www.quaysidegallery.com
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