Downtown Crowd, October 2019

OCTOBER ‘19

LOCAL CHEF, WORLDWIDE COMPETITION GREEKFEST

•

FREE BEER!

•

FIRE+RAIN

FREE

TURN UP THE HEAT

guns n’ roses ‡ Brandi Carlile ‡ interpol

Big Gigantic ‡ bishop briggs ‡ snails ‡ moon taxi Hobo Johnson & The Lovemakers ‡ Bea Miller Peekaboo ‡ Still Woozy ‡ Dr. Fresch ‡ Grandson Cray ‡ Ducky (LIVE) ‡ Magic City Hippies ‡ Njomza Memba ‡ Templo ‡ Liily ‡ Des Rocs ‡ DJ Nice Rack

beck ‡ bassnectar ‡ The national ‡ zhu

Young the Giant ‡ Clairo ‡ The Glitch Mob ‡ Jai Wolf Denzel Curry ‡ Japanese Breakfast ‡ Elohim Pink Sweat$ ‡ Medasin ‡ Shaed ‡ Whipped Cream Flamingosis ‡ Brutus ‡ Seratones ‡ Mattiel ‡ Iglooghost Hello Yello ‡ Sun Seeker ‡ PAZ ‡ Carmine P. Filthy

post malone ‡ Rezz ‡ bring me the horizon

sheck wes ‡ Hippo Campus ‡ Big Wild ‡ Opiuo ‡ Missio Danileigh ‡ Temples ‡ K?D ‡ Ashe ‡ The Ghost of Paul Revere Phantoms ‡ Duncan Fellows ‡ Willaris. K ‡ Mobley Maggie Lindemann ‡ Tristan Dufrene

TICKETS ON SALE AT

DOWNTOWN CROWD OCTOBER 2019

Editor’s Letter

Publisher Malcolm Ballinger Owners Malcolm & Glenys Ballinger

7

Executive Editor Kelly Oden Editor Will Isern Art Director Guy Stevens Graphic Designer Bara’ah Jaraiseh Editorial Assistant Kaitlyn Peacock Editorial Intern Dakota Parks Advertising Account Executives Paula Rode Paula@ballingerpublishing.com Geneva Strange Geneva@ballingerpublishing.com 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. © 2019

WILL ISERN EDITOR Flip through the pages of this is an amazing resource for remonth’s magazine and you’ll searching Pensacola’s rich histonotice the issue is a little thicker ry. Definitely worth checking out. than what you may be used to.

Editing this magazine often As a matter of fact, this is the brings me into contact with biggest issue of Downtown people like Spenser or Rebecca Crowd we’ve put out in the nearly Pappas at the Greek Festival, Aritwo years I’ve been here. Even anne Pearce at Skopelos, Lissa so, we still couldn’t fit in every- Dees at the Downtown Improvething that’s going on downtown ment Board, Andrew Rothfeder this month. Such is the way with at Studer Properties and countOctober in Pensacola, when less others who are passionate seemingly every weekend brings about downtown Pensacola and some festival or outdoor event in helping to tell its stories. Penthe hopes that fall will arrive in sacola is better for having them here and we couldn’t put out a time to cool things off. magazine like this without them.

Relief from the summer heat may prove elusive this year, but Let me encourage you also to with the Ice Flyers coming back pick up a copy of another of our this month there’s at least one publications this month. Our guaranteed way to cool off. Then special downtown development again, it could be 100 degrees issue of Northwest Florida’s outside and I wouldn’t miss the Business Climate will hit the 60th anniversary of Greek Festi- stands mid-month. We put in val on the 11-13. Check out both a ton of work to get the inside scoop on developments that will those stories later in this issue. change the face of downtown Elsewhere we’ve got pieces on a in the coming years. It’s a good young chef making waves in the issue. Look for it wherever you downtown culinary scene, a sci- picked up this Downtown Crowd. ence teacher with a passion for craft beer and details on a mas- Lastly, we want to wish the best sive art installation that prom- to our editorial assistant Kaitlyn ises to be selfie-central for the Peacock as she sets off to start a new job this month. Kaitlyn’s next month. stories here and elsewhere We owe a big thank you this were among the best we pubmonth to Spenser Andrade at lished in the last two years. We the Voices of Pensacola Mul- will miss her. ticultural Center for help with research on my Greekfest story.

If you’ve never been, the center

8

14

16

20

CONTENTS

7 Free Beer!

8 60 Years of Greekfest 11 Fire + Rain 13 Barktoberfest 14 Flyers 16 Turn Up The Heat

20 5 Questions with Creatives: Jordan Richards 23 Military Matters 25 Calendar

Cover: Chef Alex Carmona photographed by Bara'ah Jaraiseh DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 5

Pensacola Little Theatre Presents

DRACULA

Community

a REAL PAIN IN THE NECK

Written By STEPHEN C. LOTT Directed By BRANDI HICKS LANE

OCTOBER 4-6, 10-12, 2019 Pensacolalittletheatre.com 850-432-2042

Saturday October 19, 4-6pm LIVE BAND (Buoy 83) • Hot Dogs • Cotton Candy • Snow Cones • Popcorn • Climbing Wall • Games • Train Rides • Selfie Station • Cake Walk & MORE!

ALL FREE!

Please bring a canned food item for Manna Food Pantry.

For more information contact 850.433.0420 or tmacpensacola.org

THE MISSION ANGLICAN CHURCH 609 N. Alcaniz Street, Pensacola

·STEAKHOUSE·

A CLASSIC CORNERSTONE OF DOWNTOWN PENSACOLA A TRADITION FOR 20 YEARS AND COUNTING

LUNCH MONDAY–SATURDAY

|

BRUNCH SUNDAY

DINNER DAILY MONDAY–SUNDAY

Downtown Pensacola, South 400 Palafox Reservations: (850) 469-9898 · jacksonsrestaurant.com

Hoppin' around Free Beer from Pensacola to Panama City

BY WILL ISERN

Search online for Northwest Florida breweries one week and you’re likely to find the number of results will have increased a week later. Indeed, it seems a new brewery opens its doors on the Emerald Coast every few days.

The explosion of Northwest Florida’s brewery scene has presented craft beer enthusiasts with a unique problem. With so many local taphouses, how best to try them all?

BY XXX

Andrew Marr was thinking about just that problem when he was visiting Tampa and discovered PubPass.

PubPass operates in 10 cities across the country and for $25 gets buyers a free beer at 25 local pubs.

Marr owns and operates Useless Knowledge Trivia Co., through which he conducts trivia nights at area bars throughout Northwest Florida, including many of the new local breweries like Big Top Brewing in Pensacola and 3rd Planet Brewing in Niceville.

“I started realizing when I was telling people about these new breweries popping up, people would say, ‘Oh, where’s this place, where’s that place?’” Marr said.

Why not recreate the PubPass experience here, he thought. Thus was born the Northwest Florida Brewery Passport. Marr used the connections he’d built through his trivia company to wrangle together special offers from 20 local breweries exclusive to passport holders. The passport was officially launched at the Emerald Coast Beer Festival in September.

Passport holders can visit any of the participating breweries, get their stamp and receive either a free beer

or some other kind of discount, depending on the location. The passport features 20 local breweries from Pensacola to Panama City. One of the first to get on board was Big Top Brewing in Pensacola.

“He presented this idea to us and I said this is fantastic,” said Big Top general manager Patrick Maus. “As a company, we’re part of (a passport) that’s for the whole state of Florida, and we see a lot of people come through and get their stamp.

So to have a local one is great just to promote the whole craft beer scene.

It’s nice to have a roadmap and that’s what he’s provided.”

Apart from running his trivia company, Marr teaches biology at a local high school, is earning his second master’s degree and, with his wife, is raising two kids. He said the Brewery Passport began as a passion project and has quickly grown to become a bigger venture than he imagined.

“I just find a way,” he said. “If its fun it doesn’t feel too much like work.”

The Northwest Florida Brewery Passport can be purchased at many of the participating breweries, as well as online at ukentertainment.org.

brewery list Pensacola Bay Brewery Salty Oak Brewing Company 3rd Planet Brewing: Launchpad Beardless Brewhaus Strange Colt Brewery Alga Beer Company Gulf Coast Brewery The 5 Barrel Brewery St. Michael’s Brewing Company

Destin Brewery Props Ale House Gary’s Brewey and Biergarten Brew Angels Brewery Big Top Brewing Company Props Brewery and Grill Props Craft Brewing & Taproom 3rd Planet Brewing: Mothership Coastal County Brewing

DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 7

60 years of

GREEKFEST

BY WILL ISERN

On April 12, 1959, women from the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church of Pensacola organized a small spaghetti dinner open the public, held at noon, following the last morning service.

8 | DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM

Sixty years later, that spaghetti dinner has grown to become one of the largest and most beloved festivals on Pensacola’s fall calendar.

The Pensacola Greek Festival returns for its 60th anniversary this month. What began as a casual community dinner has grown into a three-day extravaganza that requires months of preparation and regularly attracts 20,000 people from across the southeast.

“It was our community coming together for one night and now it’s exploded into this wonderful three-day event,” said Rebecca Pappas, the festival’s communications director.

By 1962, the spaghetti dinner had already grown into a 10hour event called the Greek Church Festival-Bazaar. By 1969, newspaper articles were extolling the many attractions the festival had grown to offer including lunch and dinner, pastries and crafts.

Photos Left large: Men in traditional clothing dance at the Pensacola Greek Festival.Left small: The first mention of what would become the Pensacola Greek Festival in the Pensacola News Journal on April 10, 1959. Right top: An ad in the Pensacola News Journal from Nov. 5, 1963. Right middle: Women look over pastries at the 1977 Pensacola Greek Festival. Right bottom: Women of the Pensacola Greek Orthodox Church prepare food for one of the early Greek festivals.

Clipped By: jwilson2058 Wed, Sep 18, 2019

Copyright © 2019 Newspapers.com. All Rights Reserved.

To cope with the festival’s growing popularity in its 15th year, 1974 saw the expansion of the church’s kitchen to include an industrial size freezer, refrigerator, dishwasher and range.

Lunch that year was broiled kota, a chicken dish, with rice pilaf costing $2.50. Dinner was beef shish kabobs with pilaf and salad for $3.75.

The festival expanded to two days in 1983 and to its current three-day format in 1987.

Many of Pensacola’s Greek families who are still around today took part in supporting the festival in its early years. The Silivos family for example, owners of the popular Skopelos restaurant, are noted in early reports on the festival as helping prepare the festival’s two meals.

Gus Silivos owns and manages Skopelos today and grew up in the church’s youth group helping prepare for the festival, while his uncle Paul helped prepare the food. Silivos said he remembers how the entire church community pitched in each year to make the festival a success.

“The festival has always been the fundraising for the church so everyone rolled up their sleeves and worked to make it a success,” said Silivos. “I have always been amazed by the dedication and hard work that everyone does each year.”

These days, preparation for the festival is a nearly yearround affair. Foods that can be frozen are cooked months in advance. When the festival draws near, as many as 120 volunteers contribute their time cooking, baking, organizing, setting up and running the festival.

“It is our biggest fundraiser of the year, I think more than that it’s kind of our time to celebrate being Greek and share our Orthodox faith, culture and delicious cuisine,” said Pappas.

“This is so engrained in each and everyone of us in our community from knowing these recipes to the church history, it’s all part of our identity. It’s probably in my DNA at this point.”

DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 9

Under a Fire & Rain Sky

BY KAITLYN PEACOCK

Something’s happening in the skies over downtown Pensacola, even if you can’t see it yet. You might remember a couple years back during Foo Foo Fest, our skies were filled with an array of colorful umbrellas that wowed tourists and locals alike. Well, this year’s festivities are looking to recapture some of that magic with a brand new art exhibit over the downtown streets. The newest overhead art installation from the Downtown Improvement Board and Artel Gallery in conjunction with ACE and the Foo Foo Festival will be called Fire and Rain, and will feature approximately 9,500 square feet of mylar streamers filling the skies above Intendencia and Palafox Streets throughout the month of November.

The new exhibit is an evolution of the muchbeloved Umbrella Sky that was featured in the 2017 Foo Foo Festival. While the last exhibit spanned only about two-thirds of Intendencia Street, Fire and Rain will start at the Southtowne complex and run down Intendencia, along the sidewalk of Palafox, jump the street and end inside the Artel Gallery.

The streamers will start blue at Southtowne and will slowly transition along the road to red inside the gallery.

Lissa Dees, executive director of the Downtown Improvement Board, said the name Fire and Rain comes from the sound of the streamers blowing in the wind, which sounds like a crackling fire or rain falling. This exhibit will be built to move with the breezes that come off Pensacola Bay for a dynamic experience, opposed to the umbrellas, which were more of a static display.

“The (streamers) work beautifully with the wind,” Dees said. “This project is meant to ebb and flow with the wind, to change shape and form, to produce sound with the wind. So it works more in concert with the wind. We’re taking advantage of the breezes that blow down here and hoping that the art will turn into whatever the person underneath at the time wants it to be. It’s kind of like looking at the stars or clouds moving, oceans floating, all that wonderful stuff that you see when you look at art that changes. You can make it what you want it to be.”

The changing nature of the display comes from the flowing mylar streamers and the design of the exhibit. The streamers will be attached to netting that will move with the wind as well and anchored to a structure attached to the buildings along the road. The structures are currently being built and installed in preparation of the exhibit going up, so while the streets may be empty right now, the skies will soon be full of the streamers. Dees said she hopes the sight will bring more people to Pensacola, specifically the downtown area, just like the umbrellas did.

“It brought the community out, it brought people from far away, but it also brought people that maybe just don’t come downtown a whole lot,” she said. “They came down here and you didn’t have to buy anything, you didn’t have to go into a store, you could just come downtown and spend a few minutes under the umbrellas and maybe meet somebody new, maybe find a store you wanted to go into, maybe you just walked away feeling happy about your downtown.”

The exhibit will be up by the last weekend of October and will be displayed all throughout November. Once it is time for the exhibit to come down, Dees assured that the team specifically looked into options for reusing and recycling the exhibit, so it will have as minimal impact on the environment as possible.

Part of the excitement of this particular display comes from it stretching for so far along downtown roads, showing off more than just what’s on Palafox Street. With most of the retail spaces in Southtowne filled and opened, people can find something to do all along the exhibit. As downtown continues its expansion, Dees said she hopes the exhibit will bring people to see just how much progress has been made not only for downtown, but for Pensacola as a whole.

“A strong downtown, to me, means you have a strong downtown as a whole,” Dees said.

“That’s what we wanted to do.”

DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 11

K EEP IT LOCAL

Why drink water that‘s been sitting out in the hot sun?

Grab a cold Emerald Coast Ultra Pure Water bottle from the cooler!

OPENING WEEKEND BUY

NOW

AVAILABLE AT

For wholesale orders & to add our local water to your rental units, call us to order your cases.

850.434.6159

• GREER’S • JOE PATTI’S • OLD CITY MARKET • EAST HILL MARKET

By the bottle or case IF YOU DON’T SEE US, ASK FOR US!

OCTOBER 18 & 19 TO PURCHASE TICKETS, VISIT – PensacolaIceFlyers.com/SingleGameTickets

What the pup? it’s Barktoberfest!

BY DAKOTA PARKS

Fall is the perfect time of year to gather with family, furry-friends and dog-lovers alike at the 18th annual Barktoberfest. The event is hosted by the Pensacola Humane Society and will be held at the Community Maritime Park on Oct. 27.

Barktoberfest gathers dog-lovers, animal rescues, local businesses, and non-profits together for a day of petfriendly family fun. With food trucks, vendors, demonstrations and contests there are plenty of activities for everyone to get involved with.

The event not only raises money for the Pensacola Humane Society but showcases hundreds of dogs ready for adoption.

“A large focus this year is spreading the Humane Society out within the festival to increase the visibility of adoptable pets—it’s a massive venue so visibility matters,” Pensacola Humane Society Executive Director Jennifer Bitner said. “Adopt Me harnesses are one idea to show people that dogs at the event are available for adoption.”

Barktoberfest continues to grow bigger and bigger each year. With an estimated 10,000-plus attendees, the Pensacola Humane Society is hoping for an increase in adoptions. It’s a great opportunity for the Humane Society to host their partners to showcase animal welfare and the work being done for the greater good of the community.

“Our mega adoption event assists in lifesaving efforts for the animals at our shelter and the other rescues, sanctuaries, and shelters in attendance from all over the Panhandle” Bitner said.

In prior years, Barktoberfest successfully resulted in 10 to 12 adoptions for the Pensacola Humane Society alone.

With 20-plus rescues and shelters in attendance this year, there are dogs of all sizes, breeds, and ages up for adoption.

Costume contests and games are an integral part of the Barktoberfest fun and a great way to kickstart Halloween festivities. With morning and afternoon sessions, starting at 11 am and 2 pm, attendees are encouraged to participate in costume contests and games. Some of the categories include Best Costume and Best Owner & Pet Costumes for both adults and children.

The event fundraises for the Pensacola Humane Society through Barktoberfest t-shirt sales, the Most Adorable Pet Photo Contest, and donations. Pet owners can upload photos of their pets to the photo contest and encourage their friends and family to vote for them. At a dollar per vote, one dollar feeds three shelter cats or two dogs for one day. All proceeds go directly to the Humane Society. The photo contest details can be found at https://www.gogophotocontest.com/ pensacolahumanesociety While there are no breed restrictions for the event, the Humane Society requires all dogs in attendance to remain on leash. Other furry companions are welcome, but the Humane Society encourages pet owners to know their pet’s limitations when interacting with other animals.

DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 13

T I M E T O F LY

BY WILL ISERN

When their 2019 season kicks off this month, the Pensacola Ice Flyers will have one goal in mind.

“Win the championship,” said team owner Greg Harris. “We haven’t won one in a few years so I want to win another.”

14 | DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM

The Flyers captured the Southern Professional Hockey League’s President’s Cup in 2014 and 2016 under coach Rod Aldoff, simultaneously drawing the biggest crowds the team has seen before or since. Back for his second year following a stint coaching the Norfolk Admirals, Aldoff will look to solidify his young roster and rebound from a lackluster 2019 season in pursuit of the league’s ultimate prize.

The team will begin that pursuit on October 18 against the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs at the Pensacola Bay Center. The Flyers will welcome a slate of new faces

to the ice, including Blake Young, defensemen Gabriel Chuckran, Tyler Andrews, Connor Frantti and Kyle Froese, as well as forwards Michael Ederer, David Powlowski. Returning players will include forwards Brett D’Andrea, Garrett Milan, Jospeh Drapluk and defensemen Jesse Kessler.

Coach Rod Aldoff said he feels confident about team he’s put together this year.

“It’s always a puzzle but I think we’ve got a good solid base of returning players, a couple older guys, some leaders, and a

The Flyers’ season will last at least until April and include 28 home games, each with its own theme. The SPHL struck promotional deals in the offseason with Marvel Comics, Nickelodeon, Mossy Oak and Peanuts that will result in new theme nights and specialty jerseys, including those of Iron Man and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

The Ice Flyers will also introduce a NonProfit Initiative Night, set to recur in future seasons. For its inaugural theme night, the Ice Flyers chose Autism Pensacola for an Autism Awareness Night on Saturday, March 7. Jerseys worn by the players featuring the puzzle pieces representing the autism will be auction off with proceeds going to benefit Autism Pensacola.

“Our goal is to really take on a night every year without having the charity needing to do a whole lot of work,” said Harris. “We want them to just come enjoy the game and our goal every season is going to be to donate about $25,000 to that charity every year.”

The Flyers draw roughly 4,000 fans to the Pensacola Bay Center for each home game, and more than 100,000 over the course of a season. Following a 26-24-6 record last season, Ice Flyers owner Greg Harris said the team aims to reset and start the season off strong.

“We finished off the season extremely strong have a lot of those guys back and have some new blood in there as well,” said Harris. “Every summer we like to thin we have the championship team, so that’s the mentality we go with.”

Friday games will be starting at 7:35 pm, Saturday games will start at 7:05 pm, Sunday games at 4:05 pm, and weekday games at 6:35 pm. Season tickets are available and can be purchased at the Ice Flyers office or by calling them at 850466-3111. Group packages, including party deck and birthday zones options are available by filling out the group tickets request form online at PensacolaIceFlyers.com/GroupTickets.

“

We finished off the season extremely strong have a lot of those guys back and have some new blood in there as well."

2019 / 2020 SCHEDULE

group of good young players coming in,” he said. “At this time of year it’s about setting the tone early as far as professionalism, accountability and work ethic. That stuff to me is non-negotiable and the rest flows pretty smoothly.”

DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 15

TURN UP THE HEAT LOCAL CHEF, WORLDWIDE COMPETITION

BY KAITLYN PEACOCK | PHOTOS BY BARA'AH JARAISEH

16 | DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM

Here in Pensacola, if you want good food, you don’t have to look very far. Downtown Pensacola is brimming with a whole host of wonderful eateries from food trucks to steakhouses and everything in between.

But now, one Pensacola chef is taking his talents and competitive skills to the big league. Alex Carmona, the executive chef at V. Paul’s Italian Ristorante, will take part in the upcoming World Food Championship, Oct. 16 to 20 in Dallas, Texas.

Carmona will be part of a two-man team where he will assist one of last year’s champions, Nick Rickman.

Carmona’s love of food was inspired by his mother, who he describes as being the best chef he’s ever worked under. His mother taught him at an early age to appreciate good food and gave him a strong foundation for his future culinary career.

“My mom is a huge cook,” Carmona said. “When I was growing up, she was like my own little Gordon Ramsay. She was always yelling at me like ‘That’s not a tablespoon!’

She’s really funny.”

After writing papers about wanting to become a chef in the third and fourth grade, Carmona went to the Pensacola State College for their culinary program and had his dream become a reality. Carmona has previously served as the executive chef at the Wine Bar here in

Pensacola, as sous chef at the Wolf Bay Lodge in Alabama and even spent some time in the kitchen at V. Paul’s. After spending some time out of state, he returned and was offered the executive chef position at V. Paul’s, where he has been since January of this year. At age 25, he’s the youngest in the kitchen and one of the youngest executive chefs in all of Pensacola.

Despite his young age, Carmona came into V. Paul’s at a time when the restaurant was struggling and has implemented some changes that has brought it back to being one of the leading dining experiences on Palafox. As executive chef, he leads a team of up to eight people during busy hours in the kitchen. Even though he is the youngest in the kitchen, he said that doesn’t really matter to the others. They work well together, and he thoroughly enjoys his time spent with so many other experienced chefs.

“The best part of being in a position like that is actually the teaching aspect,” Carmona said. “When you get to teach people how to break down fish and how to handle large pieces of meat and why we do things the way we do. When

you get people who watch and actually appreciate it, even if they are older than me or however it works, people pick up on that and they love it and they really, really appreciate that you take that time out to work with them.”

Since becoming executive chef, Carmona said he has taken great strides to honor the classic Italian

roots of the restaurant. During his high school years, he was lucky enough to visit Rome, where he got an up close look and taste of real Italian food. He said he was inspired by the freshness of the food and with just how many things people could do with a tomato.

That trip sparked a love of Italian food in particular that has served him well at the restaurant.

“I like to get down and cook all the food. I still love to do all that,” Carmona said. “My position in the restaurant and the fact that I have a staff doesn’t make it any different.

I still want to be using my hands and I still want to know what’s going on.”

In the restaurant and his personal cooking, Carmona said he focuses on that freshness he remembers

from his trip to Italy. To achieve this, he shops locally for many of the ingredients at the restaurant, including paying a few visits to Palafox Market and connecting with a local farmer.

“When I was taught to make food, I was taught from a fresh standpoint,” Carmona said. “The idea is you taste every single thing in

> DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 17

TURN UP THE HEAT the dish, and it should all stand out but it should be balanced. There should be tangy, there should be sweet, there should be savory. I try to involve every single element of your taste buds in every single dish.”

While also pursuing a career as an executive chef, Carmona has also had the chance to participate in several cooking competition. While usually competing with a large team, Carmona had the chance to shine in a local food competition where he competed with his sous chef Daniel Williams. Carmona won the competition against some of Pensacola’s finest chefs, and after the competition, he was approached by Rickman.

Impressed by his talent, Rickman asked Carmona to join him for the 2019 World Food Competition. Carmona said at first he didn’t believe Rickman, thinking it must be some kind of joke, but soon found out it wasn’t a joke. In no time at all, he was on the road to Dallas.

The World Food Championship is an annual international cooking competition held in various cities around the world.

Leading up to the competition, chefs go head to head in smaller challenges to qualify for the championship. There are several categories that the chefs can compete in, including barbecue, seafood, original recipe, chef and others.

The championship is a tournament-style competition, starting with hundreds of teams from all over the world. Over the three-day competition, the best of the best are found, leading to a face off between the top 10 on the last day. The winner at the end is crowned champion of their category, with a prize of $10,000.

In the months after the competition, the ten category champions then come back for a second round where the overall champion is decided.

Rickman was the champion of the Chef category last year, but had competed in the World Food Championship beforehand, landing third place in the Steak category the year before his win. At 18 | DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM

the competition between the category champions, known as the Final Table, he earned second place. He is the executive chef at The Salt Block in Marianna, Florida. This year, Rickman is aiming to defend his champion title against 300 other teams in the Chef category. Carmona will act as his sous chef during the competition.

Preparing for the competition, Carmona said he and Rickman have met to discuss strategies, but mostly he has been preparing by studying. A lot of studying.

“I probably have 30 or 40 cookbooks on all different kinds of cuisines that I’ve been reading over,” he said. “You never know, there might be something from one cookbook you want to put with something from another cookbook. You might make the same recipe all the time but you read someone else’s recipe of the same thing and there’s one difference that makes it perfect. You might blend recipes and you might play with a lot of things, and that’s kind of what I’ve been doing.”

Being able to represent not only himself but Pensacola on an international stage, standing next to the returning champion, Carmona said has been the highlight of his culinary career.

“It’s an incredible feeling. Just to be part of it is incredible. With it being international and to be able to represent where I’m from is incredible as well,” Carmona said. “I never thought I’d be in this position, especially so young. To be on a large, global scale like that with so many other great chefs, I just can’t wait.”

As for his confidence, well Carmona doesn’t seem all too worried about the world-class chefs he will be competing against.

“Oh, I already know we are going to win,” he said.

WITH IT BEING INTERNATIONAL AND TO BE ABLE TO REPRESENT WHERE I’M FROM IS INCREDIBLE AS WELL."

5 QUESTIONS WITH

CREATIVES Jorda n Ri ch a rds

BY KAITLYN PEACOCK Tell me about your band, Panzacola.

Panzacola is a three-piece band. We just dropped down to a three-piece this year; we were a four-piece band. I switched over from playing guitar to playing drums at the beginning of the summer. We’re about to start writing our next album in the off season. I’m playing drums and singing, but that’s kind of a recent development. On guitar it’s Nathan Dilaha and on bass is Sean Phillips. Nathan and I have been playing together as long as I can remember now. I think I was 17 or 18 when we started playing together. Sean joined the band right when we first started it. He was Panzacola’s first bass player.

20 | DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM

It’s not very often you hear about a drummer who sings. Does that make it a little more difficult?

What makes it difficult is I haven’t been doing it very long. Our last drummer Chad Blackwell, he was an awesome drummer, he lived in Mobile and he moved a little farther away at the beginning of the year and on top of that took on more responsibilities at his day job, so gigging just wasn’t an option for him anymore. He had been the second full time drummer, but one of six or seven we had been using in this band. I just got to the point where I wanted something more steady to build on because with these types of things it tends to get better the longer you have a

core group together and can really build on a foundation. Like I said, me, Sean and Nathan have been doing it this whole time and just couldn’t find a drummer who stuck so this year I decided to just do it myself.

What type of music do you perform?

I would say we’re a psychedelic rock band, just to simplify it. In this day and age, a lot of people basically listen to everything. We’re no exception to that rule.

Our tapes are all over the map between the three of us. I listen to a lot of psychedelic rock and hip hop, the other two guys have their own complete thing in terms of tape and style. In terms of how we write, it changes from a song to song basis. It could be I come to the band with a riff or

some simple part we want to build on or it could be something that forms organically at the bar gigs.

You do some solo gigs as well. What is different between playing by yourself and playing with the band?

It’s kind of the same concept with the full band cover gigs. We’ve had a lot of success taking things that are outside of our genre, so for a psychedelic rock band we try to cover stuff that’s more in the R&B and hip-hop realm, just because we can come out with a different sound-

ing product, approaching it with different tools. I try to do the same thing with the solo gigs. I’ll do a lot of solo gigs in the middle of the week and full band stuff on the weekends during the summer times.

When winter rolls around it’s gets a little tougher to book full band stuff; it’s the off season. So I’ll do a lot more solo gigs.

Do you sit down and start experimenting with thing for the purpose of creating new things or does it just happen?

It happens different ways. Sometimes I will sit down with the express purpose of trying to write new material and just be tinkering with stuff ‘til I hear something I like.

Sometimes, that’s one of the cool about the cover band thing, we’ll utilize that as an opportunity to really experiment and

try different stuff. We might start playing a Drake song and it’ll be three minutes and 20 seconds of the actual Drake song, but after playing it for a year, it’ll be a 15 to 18 minute jam with a three minute Drake song at the very beginning and a really long jam at the end where we’ve tweaked it over the months, written different stuff and it’s kind of grown something that’s become it’s own thing.

Check out Panzacola’s first full album “The New Holy Grail” on Spotify and iTunes.

Gulf to Table Seafood To Benefit

SAVE THE DATE Tuesday, November 19 6 to 8 pm

Artel Gallery

223 Palafox Place Old Escambia County Courthouse

Health and Hope Clinic exists to help meet the needs of the uninsured and medically underserved. Health and Hope is an entirely volunteer-and donor-driven clinic established by the Pensacola Bay Baptist Association.

For further information about the event and sponsorship opportunities, please send inquires to sbergosh@healthandhopeclinic.org

DINNER SUn - tHURS 5 - 9:30 PM FRi - SAt 5 - 10 PM BRUNCH SAt & SUn 10 AM - 2 PM

oVeRlooKinG SeVille SQUARe PARK 300 S. AlcAniz St PenSAcolA, Fl 32502

850.433.1275

Follow us on

Pensacola

- OVER 250 NEW KIA’S IN STOCK! - GREAT FINANCING OPTIONS AVAILABLE!

BRING THIS MAGAZINE IN FOR A SPECIAL OFFER ON A NEW KIA!

KIAAUTOSPORTPENSACOLA.COM 6637 PENSACOLA BLVD, PENSACOLA, FL 32505

850.457.7772

TIRES FOR LIFE AND LIFETIME POWERTRAIN WARRANTY REQUIRE ALL FACTORY MAINTENANCE FOR AS LONG AS YOU OWN THE VEHICLE. SEE DEALER FOR DETAILS.

MILITARY MATTERS

Command Master Chief Returns Home to Pensacola

NAS Pensacola hosts Training Wing Six 'Show Bird'

BY JASON BORTZ / NAVAL AIR STATION PENSACOLA

BY GREGORY MITCHELL / NAVAL AIR STATION PENSACOLA NAVAL AIR STATION PENSACOLA, Fla. – Artwork comes in many forms. In terms of painting, it is usually done on an art canvas or even as a mural on a wall. One common form of artwork within the military is presented in the form of “show bird” painting. Commander, Training Air Wing Six (CTW-6) recently completed the painting of one of its T-45C Goshawk aircraft, in turn naming its very own version command show bird.

Command Master Chief Mario Rivers enlisted in the Navy in 1994 to see the world, and to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a Sailor. Twenty-three years later, he returned to his hometown of Pensacola, Florida, as the command master chief for Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola.

“I wanted to see the world and be part of the greatest Navy in the world,” said Rivers.

“I wanted to live out my dream.”

Rivers was born and raised in Pensacola and grew up in a working class family. His father and uncles all served in the military, but it was his correctional officer mother that pushed him towards a career in the Navy.

“My mom was tough as nails, but she made me a better person,” said Rivers. “She always pushed me to work hard in school, sports, and to pursue my dreams. She taught me everything about life, and the minute I confessed my love for the Navy at 5 years old, it became her bargaining tool.”

For Rivers, that dream was to serve his country as a U.S. Sailor.

“I was drawn to the Navy at an early age and my Mom signed me up for a Navy mentorship program called Saturday Scholars,” said Rivers. “I would meet with my mentor every Saturday and he would tell me about the Navy.”

Rivers joined the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) program at Booker T. Washington High School. While in JROTC, he learned about the history of the Navy, which fueled his desire to become a Sailor. After graduating high school, Riv-

ers enlisted in the Navy as an undesignated seaman recruit, which allowed him to learn about different jobs in the Navy before he selected a career to pursue. Rivers eventually decided on the ships serviceman rating.

“I always loved math and enjoyed the financial and logistical part of that rating,” said Rivers.

Rivers excelled in the Navy and would serve onboard the USS Supply (AOE 6), USS Hayler (DD 997), USS The Sullivans (DDG 68) USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) and USS San Jacinto. In 2012, he was selected to be a command master chief and joined the USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) in 2013. As fortune would have it, the man who joined the Navy to see the world returned to his hometown in 2018.

“I choose to come back to Pensacola,” said Rivers, who holds a bachelor’s degree in workforce education and a master’s in human resources. “I wanted to give back to my community, contribute to the common good and be around family. I vividly remember Pensacola as a loving community; and for the most part, everyone worked extremely hard to provide their family with the American dream. Pensacola has blossomed into a big little city.”

“The paint scheme was created as a symbol of the command’s long-storied connection with Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola and the local community,” said Lt.j.g. William Flournoy, CTW-6 collateral duty public affairs officer.

Show bird origins can be connected to nose art on military aircraft, dating as far back as World War I. Italy and Germany are credited as the first countries to apply such paint schemes, with the United States eventually following suit as well. While World War I nose art was usually embellished or extravagant squadron insignia, true nose art appeared during World War II, which is considered by many observers to be the golden age of the genre, with both Axis and Allied pilots taking part.

Entering U.S. naval service in 1992, the McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) T-45 Goshawk is a highly modified version of the British Aerospace (BAE Systems) Hawk land-based training jet aircraft that serves as an aircraft carrier-capable trainer.

The Goshawk has a unique training feature in the Virtual Mission Training System (VMTS), which simulates the capabilities of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet's Raytheon

APG-73 radar. This includes ground mapping, air-to-ground and air-to-air targeting modes, along with an electronic warfare training capability, all of which are used to prepare weapon system and electronic warfare operators for the Super Hornet.

The constructive preparation phase of the aircraft consisted of four months of stripping, sanding, priming and painting, to include weighing to insure the aircraft falls within the proper parameters of safe flight operation. The squadrons’ standard aircraft come with a red and white color scheme.

The show bird is predominately white with bold navy blue and gold stripes, a “Don’t Tread on Me” logo port and starboard fuselage, a blue tail section that includes the “Don’t Tread on Me” snake, and a squadron “F” with white stars.

“The aircraft left Pensacola as aircraft 615, but returned as aircraft 600 to signify it will be flown by the commodore,” said Flournoy. “Double ‘00’ generally signifies that the aircraft will be flown by the commanding officer.”

A second show bird designated as a ‘squadron show bird’ is scheduled to arrive in September of this year.

Headquartered in the “Cradle of Naval Aviation” onboard NAS Pensacola, CTW6 is responsible for all Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA) Naval Flight Officer (NFO) training and production. CTW-6 graduates about 300 U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and international students annually.

Their mission is to safely train the world’s finest combat quality NFOs, committed to global security and prosperity, while projecting Naval Air Power worldwide.

Rivers wants to continue his career in the Navy by seeking higher leadership positions. When he does decide to retire from the Navy, there is little doubt where Rivers plans to call home.

“Pensacola is my home and always will be,” said Rivers, who is married and has three kids. “It’s in my heart; it’s a part of me."

DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 23

Ghost Investigations and Brunch at One of Pensacola Most Haunted Locations

Spooktacular

PARANORMAL INVESTIGATION & GHOST HUNTING

OCTOBER 20 or 27, 2019 1 PM-Until Do YOU dare eat lunch in one of Pensacola’s MOST HAUNTED and one of its oldest restaurants?

We will provide ghost hunting equipment, but feel free to bring your own! Audio equipment & digital cameras are allowed.

Ticket Includes Seville Quarter Investigation and Brunch

Join Second Sight Paranormal Investigations and Forensic Services for a fully equipped ghost investigation.

Seville Quarter is located at 130 East Government St. Historic Pensacola, Florida 32502

For tickets visit SecondSightParanormal.com 850.941.4321

HIRING ALL POSITIONS

PENSACOLA, FL

• BARTENDERS • WAITERS • ENTERTAINERS • SECURITY

Call 904.707.8136

GENTLEMEN’S MONDAY - SATURDAY 3 P.M. - 3 A.M.

850.438.8030

CLUB 3121 W NAVY BLVD

CALENDAR Pensacola Symphony Orchestra presents Opening Night October 5

The Pensacola Symphony Orchestra returns to the Saenger Theatre Oct. 5 at 7:30 pm. From the first notes of Dvorak’s spirited Carnival Overture to the last notes of Debussy’s powerful La Mer, the energy and exhilaration of Pensacola Symphony Orchestra’s Opening Night are incomparable. The orchestra explores the underwater realm in Four Sea Interludes from Britten’s opera Peter Grimes, and violinist Bella Hristova returns to the Saenger stage for Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto, one of the most captivating violin showcases of all time. Ticket prices start at $23. For more information, visit www.pensacolasaenger.com or contact the Saenger Theatre Box office at 595-3880.

Improvable Cause Show

October 5 and 25 Pensacola Little Theater will host an Improvable Cause (IC) show Oct. 5 at 10:30 pm with a special Happy Hour performance Oct. 25 at 7 pm. IC is Pensacola's only professional improv comedy troupe.

Everything is created in the moment with audience suggestions, so each show is different. IC shows are edge-of-your-seat theatre where anything can happen, and usually does. For more information or to buy tickets, visit www.pensacolalittletheatre. com.

Pensacola Lionfish Classic Tournament

October 6 Coast Watch Alliance is hosting the inaugural Pensacola Lionfish Classic Lionfish Tournament. Swing by and check out what the buzz is all about around lionfish. Waiver will be sent to registered participants in a separate e-mail.

Oct. 4: 7 pm, Captains’ meeting at Dive Pros Oct. 5: Tournament Day (sunrise to sunset) Oct. 6: Weigh-in at 8 am to 11 am at The Oar House. For more information, visit Facebook.com/PensacolaLionfishClassic.

John Appleyard Talk: Pensacola History

October 8 and 22 John Appleyard will have two history presentations this month, Octobter 8 and 22 both at 9 am at the Pensacola Visitor Information Center. Don't miss the opportunity to hear famed historian, John Appleyard share his knowledge of Pensacola's history with one of his famous storytelling sessions. The event is free to the public but seating is limited. For more information, call 434-1234.

Skopelos Greek Wine Dinner

October 10 Join Skopelos Oct. 10 for the 3rd annual Skopelos Greek Wine Dinner! Hosted by Pensacola Celebrity Chef Gus Silivos, the evening will be filled with exceptional Greek wines paired with mouthwatering Greek cuisine, plus live Greek music.

Reservations are required. The price for the evening is $75 per person (plus tax and gratuity). All guests must be 21 or older.

For reservations, call 432-6565. For more information on Skopelos at New World, visit SkopelosAtNewWorld.com.

Anjelah Johnson: Technically Not Stalking

October 10 The Saenger Theatre will host Anjelah Johnson Oct. 10 at 7 pm. Johnson, who has been lauded as “one of the funniest and freshest voices in comedy right now” and whose live performances were described as “filled with almost non-stop laughter” by Time Out Chicago,will embark on her highlyanticipated tour playing to diehard fans with stops in cities from coast to coast.

Ticket prices start at $39.75. For more information, visit www.pensacolasaenger. com or contact the Saenger Theatre Box office at 595-3880.

For King and Country

October 11 The Pensacola Bay Center will host a performance by For King and Country Oct. 11. Two-time Grammy awardwinning Australian duo, for King and Country, comprised of brothers Joel & Luke Smallbone, released their much anticipated third studio album, burn the ships in October 2018…a sweeping musical landscape that explores themes of new beginnings, forgiveness, hope, and love.

For more information, visit http://www. pensacolabaycenter.com.

First City Art Center Pumpkin Patch

October 11 and 12 First City Art Center’s 13th annual Glass Pumpkin Patch takes place Oct. 12 from 10 am to 2 pm at 1060 N. Guillemard St., (on the corner of Guillemard and Gonzalez St.). First City Art Center is throwing a Pumpkin Patch Preview Party, from 6 pm to 9 pm, Oct. 11. Advance tickets are available online until Oct 10 at midnight – $25 non-members, $20 members. One glass or pottery pumpkin per ticket may be purchased at the Preview Party. Up to three additional pumpkins may be purchased Friday night with a $10 donation toward FCAC’s art scholarship fund. Entrance ticket does not include a pumpkin. For more information, contact 429-1222 or visit www.FirstCityArt.org.

Pensacola Greek Festival

October 11 to 13 The 60th annual Pensacola Greek Festival will take place October 11 - 13, 2019 at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church located at 1720 West Garden Street.

This three-day event draws upwards of 20,000 people from across the Southeast.

Admission is always free. To learn more, visit www.pensacolagreekfestival.com.

Pensacola Dragon Boat Festival

October 12 The 6th annual 2019 Pensacola Dragon Boat Festival is a fundraiser for Gulf Coast Kid's House and Junior Achievement of Northwest Florida. The Festival includes 40 plus teams that are composed of 20 paddlers, a drummer and a steerer competing in Dragon Boat Racing.

For more information, visit https:// pensacoladragonboatfestival.com.

White Tie Rock Ensemble: Guitar Heroes

October 12 The White Tie Rock Ensemble returns to the Saenger Theatre for their Guitar Heroes show Oct. 12 at 8 pm. Come experience an evening of rock and roll as the White Tie Rock Ensemble presents a tribute to: Jimi Hendrix, Van Halen, Eric Clapton, Peter Frampton, Slash, Angus Young, Jeff Beck and more! This rock theater show will have you playing air guitar all night long with the White Tie Rock Ensemble. Ticket prices start at $28. For more information, visit www.pensacolasaenger.com or contact the Saenger Theatre Box office at 595-3880.

Pensacola Half Marathon and 5K

October 13 This course was designed by locals to highlight the beauty of Pensacola and to give participants an event that they will love. The Pensacola Half Marathon starts at Community Maritime Park behind the Blue Wahoos stadium overlooking Pensacola Bay. You will loop through the historic North Hill community just before crossing the Bayou Chico bridge capturing marina views of both Bayou Chico and Pensacola Bay. Next, the course takes you to Pensacola’s downtown through our Historic District before returning you back to Maritime Park. For more information, visit www.cityofpensacola.com.

Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives

October 15 The Saenger Theatre and WSRE Public Media present Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives, Oct. 15 at 7:30 pm.

WSRE presents country music torchbearer Marty Stuart as he celebrates the 20th anniversary of his iconic album The Pilgrim. Ticket prices start at $32. For more information, visit www.pensacolasaenger. com or contact the Saenger Theatre Box office at 595-3880.

DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 25

CALENDAR

Faces of Domestic Violence Benefit Show October 26

FavorHouse of Northwest Florida will be hosting a Benefit Show featuring American Idol finalists and Domestic Violence Survivors, Wade Cota and Jess Meuse. The event concludes the organization’s 4040-40 campaign, a 40-day initiative with the goal to raise $40,000 in honor of the commencement of the nonprofit’s 40th year. The show will be held at the Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio at 1000 College Boulevard, Oct. 26. Proceeds of the campaign will benefit the operations of FavorHouse and planning for a new shelter that will support domestic violence survivors in creating a bridge to their new beginning. For more information or questions, please contact lindsey@ marketingwellplayed.com.

Pursue Your Passion Conference

October 16 and 17 Celebrating National Business Women’s Week 2019, Powerful Women of the Gulf Coast proudly presents their Seventh Annual Pursue Your Passion Conference, bringing together nearly 200 women seeking to share their business skills in a series of speaking engagements, networking events and educational workshops. For a full schedule, to register or more information, visit Eventbrite.

Blue Angel Practices

October 16, 22, 23, 29 and 30 A hometown favorite, the Blue Angels will be hosting practice sessions at the National Naval Aviation Museum throughout the month. Come see the jaw dropping aerial display up close and personal. Don’t forget the bring ear protection! Most practices will begin, wheels up, at 11:30 am. Following most Wednesday practices, members of the Blue Angels visit the Museum to meet fans and sign autographs in the 26 | DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM

can connect with the unique culture of Pensacola. The theme this month will be a Halloween Spooktacular. Palafox Street will be closed for traffic between Garden and Main Street during the event. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/pg/ Gallery-Night-Pensacola.

Bud Light Charity Challenge

October 18 and 19 Pensacola Sports is excited to partner with The Lewis Bear Company to present the 15th annual Bud Light Charity Challenge Tennis Tournament. This event benefits Arc Gateway, an organization that provides the best possible life experiences for more than 800 children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and Pensacola Sports, a private 501(c)4 not-for-profit agency, focuses on education, inspiration and participation in various team, individual, amateur and professional sports. For more information, visit https:// pensacolasports.org/budlighttennis.

Festa Italiana

Atrium. For more information, visit www. navalaviationmuseum.org.

For show weather updates, visit the Blue Angels Facebook or Twitter before show time.

October 18 and 19 Festa Italiana is a celebration of all things Italian, including food offerings for purchase like shrimp scampi, spaghetti and meatballs, lasagna, sausage and pepper sandwiches and tiramisu. Italian dancers and music, prize drawings and a silent auction are all part of the event. Visitors are able to find out about their Italian heritage and purchase Italian souvenirs. Fun for the entire family. Public welcome; free parking and admission. For more information, visit https://soibuonafortuna.org/home/festaitaliana.

Pensacola Interstate Fair

A Nightmare Before Christmas

October 17 to 27 The annual Pensacola Interstate Fair returns to the fairgrounds Oct. 17 to 27.

All musical performances are located on the Pepsi Open Air Stage. Entertainment shows at the Pensacola Interstate Fair are free with the price of admission. There is always something fun and exciting to see at the Fair! We strive to have something for everyone to enjoy! Hours of operation vary from day to day. Check the daily schedule to see opening and closing times for each day. For more information, visit http://www. pensacolafair.com.

Gallery Night

October 18 Enjoy the beautiful summer night at Gallery Night, Oct. 18 starting at 5 p.m. Take the “Arts to the Streets” where visitors

October 18 to 20 and October 25 to 27 PLT will host presentation of Ballet Pensacola’s A Nightmare Before Christmas.

Show times are 7:30 pm Oct. 18, 19, 25 and 26 with special showings at 2:30 pm, Oct. 20 and 27. Jack is back! Ballet Pensacola’s production of The Nightmare Before Christmas is back one last time before it goes in the vault. Join Jack, Sally, the Mayor, and the characters from Halloweentown in this epic romp showcasing Richard Steinert’s critically acclaimed production.

The show is more spooky than scary and will be appropriate for children. For more information or to buy tickets, visit www. pensacolalittletheatre.com.

Miranda Sings!

October 19 The Saenger Theatre will host Miranda

Sings, Oct. 19 at 7 pm. Colleen Ballinger is a multihyphenate; actor, comedian, trained vocalist, writer and executive producer.

Best known for portraying her character, "Miranda Sings," a personality that is the polar opposite of Ballinger, she has amassed more than 20 million followers across social media and passed two billion views on YouTube. Ticket prices start at $39.50. For more information, visit www. pensacolasaenger.com or contact the Saenger Theatre Box office at 595-3880.

Walk to End Alzheimer’s

October 19 Held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide, Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Lead the way to Alzheimer's first survivor. Sign up today at act.alz.org/Pensacola. Registration is at 8 am, the ceremony will be at 9 am and the walk will be at 9:30 am. The walk will take place at the Community Maritime Park. For more information, contact Zachary Suggs at 462-5410 ext. 8042 or zsuggs@alz.org

Spooktacular Paranormal Investigation and Ghost Hunting

October 20 and 27 Do you dare eat lunch in one of Pensacola's most haunted and one of its oldest restaurants? We will provide ghost hunting equipment, but feel free to bring your own!

Audio equipment & digital cameras are allowed. Ticket includes Seville Quarter investigation and brunch. Join Second Sight Paranormal Investigations and Forensic Services for a fully equipped ghost investigation. Seville Quarter is located at 130 East Government St. For tickets visit http://www.secondsightparanormal.com or call 941-4321.

Cirque du Coleil: Axel

October 24 to 27 Cirque du Soleil will be performing at the Pensacola Bay Center Oct. 24 to 27. Cirque du Soleil is back on ice with AXEL, a new electrifying experience fusing world-class ice skating with breathtaking acrobatics.

Follow AXEL and his dynamic group of friends whose passion for live music and graphic arts come to life in an exhilarating adventure that reminds us that our dreams are within reach. For more information, visit http://www.pensacolabaycenter.com.

Breast Cancer Awareness Walk

October 26 Join Pensacola's 17th annual Breast Cancer Awareness Walk. The walk will begin at Community Maritime Park behind the Wahoo’s Stadium Oct. 26. Registration begins at 8 am and there will be food, entertainment, and fun for the entire family. There is an opening ceremony beginning at 8:30 am hosted by Brent Lane and Sue Straughn followed by a quick warm-up by ‘Sonshine’ and then promptly at 9am the walk will begin and conclude around 11 am. For more info or to register your team to walk go to www. makingstrideswalk.org/Pensacolafl.

Breastival

October 26 Breastival, an all day concert to benefit the Pink Pirates of Navarre, will take place Oct. 26 from noon to 9 pm. Pink Pirates is a 501c non-profit organization based in Navarre dedicated to raising awareness and funds to assist with early detection of breast cancer. This group was established to help promote awareness of the importance of regular mammograms.

This is very important in the battle against breast cancer. Admission donation and 10 percent of sales go to the Pink Pirates for Mammograms to help women who can not afford them. For more information, call 378-1324.

THE ESCAMBIA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE PROUDLY PRESENTS

THE ARC GATEWAY'S 2019 WREATHS OF JOY GALA

Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival

November 1 to 3 The three-day, juried art show draws more than 200 of the nation's best painters, potters, sculptors, jewelers, graphic artists, craftsmen and other artists. The event features live musicians in Fountain Park with sounds ranging from Zydeco, bluegrass, jazz and blues to classical.

Local dance schools and groups perform daily. Admission to the festival is free. Pets are not allowed at the Festival. For more information, visit http://www.ggaf.org.

Pensacola Women’s Half Marathon

November 1 to 3 Pensacola Sports is thrilled to announce the addition of an all-Nnew, weekendlong event, The Pensacola Women’s Half Marathon. This inaugural, women’s focused event is going to bring the Pensacola running community to the next level. To register or for more information, visit http://pensacolasports.org.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2019 5:30 PM PENSACOLA BAY CENTER CONTACT 850-434-2638 BHOUGHTON@ARC-GATEWAY.ORG

LOCAL SPORTS RADIO! EVERY UWF FOOTBALL GAME AND THE HIGH SCHOOL GAME OF THE WEEK

CHAD BRILLANTE Sports Drive Mon – Fri 5-7pm

DAVIS ALLEN AND JUSTIN PATRICK Sports Call Sat 11–1pm

‘KAY’ STEPHENSON Talk Football with Coach Kay Mon – Fri 12–1pm

SIGNATURE BLOODY MARY

10AM-2PM

$5.99 HAPPY HOUR MENU $2.50 DOMESTIC BOTTLES & DRAFTS $4 HOUSE WINES & LIQUOR DAILY FROM 3-6PM IN THE BAR

WWW.NICKSBOATHOUSE.COM

455 W. Main St., Downtown Pensacola

(850) 912-8775

7

LUNCH $ 99 SPECIALS MON-FRI • 11AM-3PM

JOE FORD Local Play by Pay

an Evening of Fashion

presented by the Women’s Board of Baptist Health Care Foundation

43 rd Annual Fashion Show October 17, 2019 Skopelos at New World, 600 South Palafox St. Fashions by Bluetique, cabi by independent stylists Jennie and Marly, The Market and Mainly Shoes and The South Outfitters 5:30 p.m. Cocktails, Silent Auction and Hors D’oeuvres 6:30 p.m. Program and Live Auction 7 p.m. Fashion Show Tickets $50 For information about sponsorships or to purchase tickets, call 850.469.7906 or visit BaptistHealthCareFoundation.org.

Acumen Medical Imaging & Interventional • Ballinger Publishing • BBVA USA • Cox • Emerald Coast Hospice • Fiore of Pensacola • Rachel Gilmer, Personal Injury Attorney Levin Papantonio • Michael & Crystal Gleason • Gresham Smith • Hancock Whitney • Lauren Hayward Interiors • Highpointe Hotel Corporation • Iron Horse Wealth Strategies • KIA AutoSport Pensacola • John Kizziah, State Farm Agency • Levin Rinke Realty • Margie Moore/ Mary Catherine Harper – Merrill Lynch • Pensacola News Journal and Bella Magazine • Separation Systems, Inc. • Brett Smith, MD The Kugelman Foundation • Voya Financial • WEAR ABC3 A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING 1.800.435.8352 OR BY VISITING WWW. FRESHFROMFLORIDA.COM. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. REGISTRATION #CH606.

YOUR BEST FALL EVER! There’s nothing quite like Pensacola, Florida in the Fall — and if it’s Fall that means it’s time for Foo Foo Fest! We’ve got it all — it’s a smorgasbord, or a gumbo, of entertainment, self-indulgence, education and enlightenment celebrated right here in our charming coastal city.

An annual 12-day celebration of artists and artisans that has blossomed into a “don’t miss” event on the cultural and artistic landscape for both tourists and locals alike.

There is no better time than the fall to visit or enjoy Pensacola, Florida. For more information, and a complete listing of all events, visit www.foofoofest.com.

Invite your family and friends.

Visit FooFooFest.com to take advantage of hotel specials from our hotel partner.

Use the code: Foo!

OCT. 31 – NOV.11 | PENSACOLA, FL