Downtown Crowd January 2015

THE DOWNTOWN CROWD

PENQUIRER HITTIN’ YOU WITH SOME TRUTH(?)

LEWD-icrous! the shocKinG truth aBout PensacoLa’s “Ladies oF the niGht!”

SHOCKING NEWS!

Pensacola Beach Ball may hold secret alien base* *or just some water..

Find out on PG. 6!

Murders. the MoB.

MayheM!

out the TRUTH aBht! iG n y GaLLer

woa

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the suLtry

A SIGHT fOR SORE EYES

siren oF

hayward’s BLindinG sMiLe

PensacoLa

striKes aGain!

Historical

LOVE, LUST & DEATH

Harlot

AT THE OPERA!

JANUARY • 2015

FREE

ExTREME MAKEOVER Bastion oF vandaLisM BecoMes art Piece

Hangout! pg. 17 downtowncrowd.com Jan 2015

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DTCJANUARY

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11 Emily Echevarria, editor

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EACH JANUARY, A seemingly great majority of people deliberate and plan the various steps they’ll take in the great march toward self-improvement.

I myself am even guilty of trotting out some bright-eyed ideas to maintain my amazingness.

But, a thought experiment: what if we as a society rebelled against this timeworn and thoroughly disproved tradition of arbitrarily setting beginning-of-year goals and replaced it instead with a time for giving in to our most basest and illconceived desires?

Scandal, drama, and only the juiciest gossip would rule in this new indulgent world order! Why should over-thetop emotional roller coasters exist only on the latest primetime drama or engrossing cold case crime podcast, when they could be the currency of our everyday lives, if only we would learn to control the impulse to control our impulses?

4 New Year, New Traditions 6 Pedal Trolley Patrol 9 12th Night: All the Deets 11 La Bohéme 13 The Truth About Gallery Night 15 Secrets of Downtown

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Sure, you’re thinking. Traipsing around town in constant party mode leaving a trail of chaos and emotional wreckage in your wake sounds all fine and good, but what about getting in shape? What about managing those finances? What about spending more time playing with your cat so she gets some exercise and doesn’t become a lethargic, obese cat? Where does all that fit into this debauched new lifestyle??

OK, OK. You’re right. This thought experiment is going down in flames.

But if we can’t live with the thrills and melodrama of a daytime soap, we can at least indulge sporadically throughout our otherwise healthy and ho-hum lives. And Pensacola is the perfect place to be, because this city was built on secrets, mayhem, murder and dark deeds, and we’re exposing all the dirt on Downtown starting on page 15. From the red light district to the secret catacomb tunnel system under the streets, we’ve got all the salacious secrets and unsubstantiated rumors from only the most credible sources.

Additionally, we have your tawdry celebrity romance in the form of Pensacola Opera’s La Bohéme, here to class up the on-again-off-again trope and add a dash of tragedy. We’ve also got an update on the vandalism-stapleturned-concept-art piece the Graffiti Bridge Project.

Crime, romance, drama, what more does your 2015 need? For me, probably improved time management, but there’s always next month to start on that.

23 Film 24 Extreme Makeover 27 Word on the Street 28 Dateline Downtown 30 Art • Music • Theatre

Publisher Malcolm Ballinger Executive Editor Kelly Oden Editor Emily Echevarria Art Director Rita Laymon Graphic Design and Ad Coordination Guy Stevens Business Editor Josh Newby

Advertising Account Executives Sharyon Miller sharyon@ballingerpublishing.com Becky Hildebrand becky@ballingerpublishing.com DIB Executive Director Ron Butlin DIB Board Members Burney Merrill Susan Campbell Teri Levin Corbett Davis John Peacock 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 in cooperation with the Downtown Improvement Board, 41. N. Jefferson St., Suite 401, Pensacola, Florida 325402

by Ballinger Publishing. Offices located at 41 N. Jefferson St., Suite 402, Pensacola Florida 32505

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.

Cover design by Guy Stevens

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New Year New Traditions

New Year’s Eve and Day bring a bevy of traditions that are said to bring luck, love and/or prosperity through the coming year. Eating pork is considered a lucky lunch for January 1 in many cultures, as well as cornbread, which is said to represent the gold that will fill your pockets. Blackeyed peas and greens are also traditional New

Photo courtesy: Visit Perdido

Year’s eats, but all this just sounds like an excuse to eat a meal of southern staples. You can do that and something a bit more unique to kick off 2015 by washing off 2014 in the chilly Gulf of Mexico.

Polar Bear Plunge at Paradise Bar & Grill Kick off 2015 with a fresh start and participate in the Polar Bear Plunge at Pensacola Beach.

Many participants wear funky and seasonal costumes, swim suits or regular clothes. Come out to Paradise Bar and Grill at 2 pm New Year’s Day and join hundreds of “plungers” walk, dip, run and swim through the Gulf waters. Then enjoy a steaming bowl of black-eyed peas for good luck throughout the year.

Polar Bear Dip at Flora-Bama At the notorious Flora-Bama Lounge, people ring in the New Year by taking a dip into the Gulf of Mexico at high noon. Dippers and other participants dress up or just show up for this special day and a party that goes on from 11 am-3 pm. The Flora-Bama provides the traditional feast with black-eyed peas, cornbread, ham and more for those who take the plunge and Polar Bear Dip shirts and towels are available in the gift shop.

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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3 RESTAURANTS. 3 MENUS. 3 COURSES.

Winter Restaurant Week, January 20–24 Jackson’s Steakhouse, The Fish House, and Atlas Oyster House present a five-day culinary celebration offering chef-selected three-course dinner menus at $33 per person, per restaurant. Tuesday, January 20, through Saturday, January 24. View menus at greatsouthernrestaurants.com.

·STEAKHOUSE· JACKSON’S: SOUTH 400 PALAFOX ST., (850) 469-9898 · FISH HOUSE: 600 S. BARRACKS ST., (850) 470-0003 · ATLAS: 600 S. BARRACKS ST., (850) 470-0003 downtowncrowd.com Jan 2015

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L O R T A P Y E L L PEDAL TRO

BY EMILY ECHEVARRIA

A stroll through Downtown Pensacola is both a walk through the past and through a newly bustling yet charming streetscape, replete with

remarkable architecture and historic landmarks, not to mention the many unique, local businesses that call this area home. But why stroll the streets when you can pedal, and why pedal a normal bicycle when you can join with friends to utilize one of Pensacola’s newest and most exciting business ventures: Pensacola Pedal Trolley.

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The pedal-powered vehicle seats 15 passengers who pedal the group on a Downtown joy ride that can encompass anything from a tailgate before the big game, to a pub crawl or historic tour. Owner Drew Buchanan is originally from Pensacola but has lived in various cities around the country. He says coming back to see and be a part of Downtown’s resurgence has been a highlight of his life.

“When I was seeking out the perfect city to start my new business, Pensacola stood out like a diamond in the rough. The idea of the Pedal Trolley came to me after thinking of a new business concept that combined the joys of experiencing downtown and the resurging craft beer and cocktail culture with the uniqueness of a social fitness experience,” he says.

“The Pensacola Pedal Trolley brings everything we enjoy about Pensacola into one pedal-powered rolling party.”

The trolley itself was customized to resemble the streetcars of old

Pensacola, though it has many modern amenities like lights, turn signals, space for purses and a sound hookup that allows riders to bring their own tunes to blast as they zoom (at 5 to 7 mph) through the streets.

“I spent a lot of time at the Museum of Commerce where they have one of the actual trolleys that was used during the early 1900s in Pensacola,” Buchanan says. “We went as far as to use the same shade of streetcar yellow and even utilized reclaimed wood to replicate the antique look of the historic trolleys.”

This pedal party is perfect for celebrations of all kinds or even corporate events, and only about six people are necessary to power it, though the more people pedaling, the easier it is. While riders can’t drink alcohol while the trolley is in motion, the pub crawl— where riders pedal through Downtown, stopping at several bars and pubs along the way—is the most popular

tour option as of yet.

With nothing like it on the road, Pensacola Pedal Trolley offers a fun, new Downtown adventure for visitors and locals alike. Tours can be booked seven days a week and the company is always seeking out other businesses and passionate individuals to partner with and help them grow.

To get in touch or book a tour, visit pensacolapedals.com.

Mention tha t you saw Pensacola P eda Downtown C l Trolley in rowd for 15 % off your nex t tour! For m ore information or to book a tour visit pensac olapedals.co m or call 483.1 405.

The best mornings begin at Blue Morning Gallery.

So does the best art. Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today. Become a morning person.

Award-winning artists • Local, original art Open 7 days a week 21 South Palafox Place • 850.429.9100 • bluemorninggallery.com

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plt mainstage productions & the retirement planners present

Last Night of Ballyhoo

jan 30,31 & feb 1, 5-8 2015 written by Alfred Uhry directed by Billy Buff

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: Y T R A P F F O K IC K S A R G I D R A M

BY JOSH NEWBY PHOTOS BY BUD LOVOY

!

S T E E D E H ALL T M

ardi Gras might not be till mid-February, but DTC has the deets on a kickoff party Jan. 9 guaranteed to make even the French blush and hold you off until the traditional season of beadsand-moon-pie extravagance arrives.

Because getting all that salacious excess out of your system before Lent can never start too early!

Pensacola Mardi Gras, Inc. is in charge of the shindig that will take place at 5 pm on Historic Palafox and Government streets. Don’t plan on having to shell out any cash, either. Wind Creek Casino and Hotel sponsors the whole thing so that the Krewes and everyone else can participate without a problem.

Each Krewe and each Krewe’s

membership will be ceremoniously blessed at the party and proclaimed ready to participate in the official 2015 Mardi Gras season. The blessing processional includes local celebrities like comedian T. Bubba Bechtol (last seen receiving a national comedy award), the Knights of Columbus, Pensacola Jazz’s brass processional band, and more.

The Town King Cake is provided

by Oh Snap!, whose tasty delicacies are to DIE for. All of Pensacola is then invited to dance the night away, courtesy of a second line jazz street band performance.

Local Krewes will be present to party along side the commoners until after midnight, as the whole city joins together in ringing in the

festive Mardi Gras season.

“This is a great event kicking off the Mardi Gras season for all of Pensacola,” proclaims Danny Zimmern, president of Pensacola Mardi Gras. “The best Krewes will be there, including the Krewes this year from Mobile and Ft. Walton and Destin. Mardi Gras and Downtown Pensacola will be on display for this event unique to Pensacola, but known all along the Gulf Coast.”

Famous Krewes this year include the Hip Huggers, Daisy Dukes, Left Feet, Mystic Mafia and more.

We better see you out there!

Rumor has it some community notables might even make an appearance.

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10 Jan 2015 downtowncrowd.com

LA BOHÉME

C-C-CRAZY!

KILLER hair, Rodolfo!

!

T S U L !

E LOV !

N O I T P M U CONS W

hile many may view opera as the most highbrow of cultural offerings, the stories told by many of the most beloved librettos are tawdry tales of forbidden romance, dastardly betrayal and death under suspicious circumstances.

It’s the stuff of tabloid fodder set to music and often presented in a language that makes it all sound like a scholarly affair (it’s also translated in supertitles on a screen suspended above the stage for the laypeople that haven’t yet mastered their Italian). While the incredible artistry of singers, musicians, costumers, set designers and many others are on full display, opera can most certainly appease your taste for lust and lies, and this season’s offerings from Pensacola Opera will not disappoint in that arena.

Opening the 32nd season on Jan. 23 and 25 is one of the most popular works in the canon, Giacomo Puccini’s La Bohéme.

In the grand tradition of on-again off-again celebrity couplings, La Bohéme focuses on the poet Rodolfo and a seamstress named Mimi, both living in the Latin Quarter of Paris in the 1840s. As the name implies, the very bohemian clique to which these characters belong includes a philosopher, a musician, a painter and a singer.

“It’s a great love story, a love story that transcends poverty, time, illness that brings two people together that seem destined to be together through this bohemian lifestyle,” says Pensacola Opera’s artistic director Kyle Marrero.

Jealous lovers, gold-digging women and the poverty and sickness rampant in

BY EMILY ECHEVARRIA

1840s wintry Paris all become factors in the intertwined lives of the friends, prompting Mimi and Rodolfo to break up, make up and break up again. As the tumultuous relationship takes its course, some of the most famous and popular songs in the opera world are performed, like Rodolfo’s aria “Che Gelida Manina (What a Cold Little Hand)” or the pair’s duet “O Soave Fanciulla (Oh Lovely Girl)”.

“The beauty of La Bohéme is it has the intimacy of a love story with gorgeous arias and duets,” Marrero says. “Very intimate music and storytelling, along with grand opera in Café Momus, when there’s about 100 people onstage.”

Those people include members of the Pensacola Opera Chorus as well as 16 children from the Pensacola Children’s Chorus who will be singing and portraying street urchins in the production. Marrero says while La Bohéme is beloved and familiar by opera aficionados, it is also an ideal first opera as well as a great option for a date night.

Will Rodolfo dump Mimi at the first sign she suffers from the dreaded consumption?

Will Musetta ditch her rich, old admirer in favor of the artist Marcello? Will these youthful bohemians get real jobs and finally be able to pay the rent to their landlord Benoit? Our sources confirm there’s only one way to find out.

Visit the Saenger Theatre box office for tickets that start at $25 or for more information visit pensacolaopera.com.

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Inaugural

Big Hole Golf Tournament Saturday, February 28, Scenic Hills Country Club Big Hole Golf is a new, faster-paced, 9-hole game. It’s a perfect outdoor activity for families and friends, both seasoned golfers and beginners. Join us for the inaugural tournament—the first in Florida. All proceeds will benefit WUWF Public Media.

Details and registration information can be found at scenichills.com or wuwf.org.

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THE SIGNATURE DOWNTOWN EVENT RETURNS FOR ANOTHER FULL YEAR OF ART, CULTURE AND ENTERTAINMENT!

T

he Gallery Night season kicks off this month on Friday, Jan. 16 and once again it will continue on a monthly basis throughout the year. Years ago Gallery Night was a much smaller night of galleries and other businesses opening their doors late to patrons, and it has since blossomed and grown into a full blown art and music extravaganza that attracts thousands. So many people flock to Palafox and the surrounding blocks that the main thoroughfare and Government have been closed to traffic for the duration of the event to allow crowds to spill into the streets, and the streets continue to remain closed January 16 from 9 pm to 12 am for February 20 safety and March 20 to allow the April 17 revelry to May 22 continue once June 19 the official Gallery Night July 17 has ended.

August 21 Stella Artois September 18 will continue October 16 to be a key November 20 sponsor of the event.

December 18 As usual, each event this year will offer a little something different, with surprises like flash mobs or costumed characters popping up among the music performances and art demonstrations that pepper the streets and participating businesses. Look out for exciting collaborations like February’s event, which will be sponsored by Pensacon and held the week before the convention. Each month Gallery Night will fall on the third Friday of the month, excluding May, when the Fiesta Parade will be on the third Friday and Gallery Night will fall on the fourth Friday.

This year, come Downtown to enjoy the expanded Gallery Night offerings, and be sure to look out for Official Participant signs to find the businesses that make Gallery Night possible. Mark your calendars now for the dates of the 2015 Gallery Night season!

THE TRUTH ABOUT GALLERY NIGHT

D O W N T O W N CROWD EXCLUSIVE!

BY EMILY ECHEVARRIA

Photo by Guy Stevens

what the W HA T? !

Photo by Dominique Wright Photo by Dominique Wright

Photo by Dominique Wright

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DOWNTOWN CROWD

SECRETS! MURDERS! MOBS! MONSTERS! MISTRESSES! MAYHEM!

BY EMILY ECHEVARRIA AND JOSH NEWBY

SECRET SOURCES: UWF HISTORIC TRUST, EMERALD COAST TOURS, DESTINATION ARCHAEOLOGY RESOURCE CENTER, AND JOHN APPLEYARD downtowncrowd.com downtowncrowd.com Jan Jan 2015 2015 15 15

HELEN OF ST PA RK DA A PENSACOLA

The Pensacola Cultural Center (Little Theatre) was built after a newspaper headquarters was cleared from the site to allow the 1912 construction of the Escambia County Court of Record Buildings, jail and sheriff’s offices.

Initially, the court and judge’s chambers occupied the north segment, with the jail and sheriff’s offices on the south. An open courtyard was entry for prisoners and vehicles. For some years, hangings were carried out in the judge’s area.

Helen X was Pensacola’s own Helen of Troy. Helen X, a statuesque beauty, was said to have caused three suicides. A local merchant, deeply smitten and hopelessly behind in his finances because of her, faked a robbery, set fire to his store and fled to the north, there to end his life. A young Naval officer barely escaped

passion for the siren by quietly

THE BRITS’ LAST STAND

dropping over the side of his ship in

Many people don’t realize that there is

mid-ocean.

a secret fort site right in the middle of

courtmartial for taking the fair Helen out for rides in a government launch.

He became an alcoholic and drank himself to death, babbling to the last of his devotion to her. A foreign sea captain quenched his burning

Who, ME?

Miss

MOLLIE MCCOY

Downtown, one that served a pivotal role in the American Revolutionary War, which is also where aliens landed in 1972*. In 1779 the British built Fort George and two smaller redoubts on North Hill. When the Spanish attacked Pensacola in 1781 during the American Revolutionary War, the loss of these forts forced the British to surrender the city. You can visit this site of Fort George on Palafox Street today since it is part of the Colonial Archaeological Trail. *nope.

McCoy was a Pensacola madame who owned and

SEX Y!!

operated a number of brothels in the city’s Red Light District in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Her most famous bordello house was located at 15 W. Zaragoza St., a 20-room brick home where prostitutes from as far away as New Orleans would see patrons.

Photo courtesy

16 Jan2015 2015 downtowncrowd.com downtowncrowd.com 16 Jan

of UWF Historic

Trust

F Historic Trust

Photo courtesy of UW

REFUGE FROM THE STORM When hurricanes ravaged Pensacola’s coast, social restrictions were relaxed and prostitutes who were unable to be of company to a mercenary were allowed to take refuge in the Custom House and Post Office on Government St., now Artel Gallery.

An ancient Native American village and historic AfricanAmerican neighborhood once occupied the site of the Gulf Power headquarters building on Bayfront Parkway. This site, known as Hawkshaw, had human occupation that dated back to 2,000 years ago. With the

A TIMELESS TRIM When the Masonic Temple on Garden St. was erected in 1896, several smaller structures were placed just to the east. One was Gagnet’s Barber Shop.

Through more than a century, barbering has seen changes, from the tools used to the prices charged. One barber, Joe Brown, is over 97-years-old and is still

support of Gulf Power, University of West Florida archaeologists excavated the site and public participation in Pensacola’s archaeology got underway.

The famous Saenger Theatre, affectionately referred to as the Grand Dame of Palafox, opened its illustrious doors in 1925 and was a marvel of Spanish Baroque architecture that took 13 months to complete. In those early years, the Saenger played host to the then-popular Vaudeville-style shows and Broadway plays. It was then transformed into a pornographic movie house before its unfortunate but short-lived closure in 1975, when it was donated to the City of Pensacola.

A skunk ape sighting?!

SAENGER AFTER DARK

trimming every work day.

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PENSACOLA’S RED LIGHT DISTRICT

Pensacola’s infamous Red Light District comprised four square city blocks in the south end of the city.

High- and mid-level brothels were located on “The Line,” along West Zarragossa. Cheaper brothels could be found along South Baylen.

Prostitution was illegal Ac on do all throughout the early 1900s, but police ignored the booming business.

Madames would alert police if there was trouble beyond the usual tussles.

While most of the year only saw the town’s prostitutes outside during the daylight, due to the city’s strict public ethics laws, once a year, during Mardi Gras, on a day known as Masquerade Day, the women were allowed to freely roam, under guise of mask, and rub elbows with the local gentry.

But once the clock struck and the curfew was enacted, they fled, Cinderella-like, back to their quarters.

When a patron of the Red Light District would settle down and decide to marry, he was automatically dropped from the madame’s list, for the period of the honeymoon at least. It was part of the code that young married men were not welcome down the line.

“The Line” was more like a rectangle. #scandal

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Jan 2015 downtowncrowd.com

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A girl’s gotta make a LIVING!

This information is brought to you by Jackie Rodgers’ exhibit Lost Virtue: Pensacola’s Red Light District at the Destination Archaeology Resource Center, on display until the end of January.

THE CITY’S DARKEST MOMENTS

SUNKEN TREASURE!

Leander Shaw was in jail for the

A man known as Eugene Arbona

rape and murder of Lillie Davis

who was serving a life sentence in

when a mob broke into the jail (now

Mobile was released to fight in the

the Pensacola Museum of Art) and

Civil War and built a saloon where

hung him from a light post in Plaza

the children’s museum now stands.

Ferdinand, though Sheriff James

Long after the last of the Arbonas

Van Pelt tried to intervene. The

died in 1940, a man named TT Todd

coroner performed an autopsy on

bought the building and found their

him and found more than 200 bullet

skeletal remains there.

holes riddled through him.

say W H A A AT

In 1559 Tristan de Luna attempted to colonize Pensacola for Spain, but it ultimately failed when a hurricane struck and destroyed much of the fleet carrying the supplies. Two vessels from this

de Luna fleet were discovered by state and University of West Florida underwater archaeologists over the past couple of decades in Pensacola Bay. They are known as the Emmanuel Point Shipwrecks.

Look at that hat!

Van Pelt

An Arbona whiskey bottle

UNEARTHED TREASURES

?

After the French destroyed the Spanish settlement of Presidio Santa Marie de Galve in 1721, the Spanish returned to Pensacola and built a new fort and town on Santa Rosa Island in 1722. It was called Presidio Isla de Santa Rosa and lasted until it was destroyed by a hurricane in 1752. University of West Florida archaeologists excavated the site from 2002-2004 and recovered over 157,000 artifacts.

While much of Pensacola’s past remains hidden beneath the surface awaiting discovery by archaeologists, the legacy of its colonial past is still visible above ground. Pensacola has always been known for its constant fiestas. Always. The open spaces of Plaza Ferdinand and Seville Square were created by the Spanish for their parade grounds, and the layout of the Downtown area was created by the British.

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Found it!

ASHTON’S BLINDING SMILE?

Smolder Alert!

Rumor has it that if bystanders stare too long and too closely at Mayor Hayward’s smile, it

ILLUMI-JAZZY

will cause a retinal explosion for anyone who dares behold its white

Is Pensacola’s local Jazz Society a front group for the Illuminati? Exclusive sources have blown the lid off this can of worms and confirmed that every member is in fact a member of Pensacola’s secretive, omnipotent ruling class. Need proof, sheeple? Look closely at the above picture. Sure, it just seems like a routine jazz sesh serenading listeners with some smooth beats, but on closer inspection, you can clearly see the all-seeing-eye etched onto the brick wall. We KNEW the Jazz Society wasn’t nearly as innocent and low-key as they let on.

and toothy glory. While his glimmering grin may be an asset to his SPARKLING image, we’re left wondering if his smile is a sight for sore eyes, or the cause of them. When asked about it, them mayor just smiles, thus rendering the question and its asker useless and awestruck.

DUN DUN DUN.

THE SKUNK A P E L I VES The Skunk Ape, long thought to be just a rumor of those exposed to too much heat and humidity in southern Florida, was recently sighted attempting to enjoy some chicken and waffles mixed with bluesy rhythms at Five Sisters Café in the Belmont-Devilliers area. This amateur photograph, which has not been shopped in any way and boasts impressively professional lighting, shows ole Skunky thinking he’s people and attempting to take part in one of Pensacola’s most treasured pastimes: skulking outside of restaurants and waiting for the other members of your party to arrive, even though you sent repeated reminder texts and they assured you that they were on their way 15 minutes ago.

GEEZELouise!

* OUR LAWYERS HAVE ADVISED US TO DISCLAIM THAT 100% OF THE ITEMS CONTAINED ON THIS PAGE ARE NOT TRUE. OR ARE THEY?! (NO.)

20 Jan 2015 downtowncrowd.com

I TPCYEI T E RPAE R A BIG B CI G TBYICGO ROY AP O WA I TLH M A LNSLMCTAH OLA W HN A RCMH A R M WITH SM LWTSIO TW H LRN TMOCW

Join UWF Historic Trust and P ensacon for Three Creature Features Filmed in Florida Come in costume for a chance to win tickets to Pensacon 2015 T.T. Wentworth, Jr. Florida State Museum 1/17 Jaws II 1/24 Creature from the Black Lagoon

Film series in conjunction with the traveling exhibit Beaches, Creatures, and Cowboys: Florida Movie Posters

1/31 Return of the Creature from the Black Lagoon Social mingle at 5:30 p.m. films begin at 6 p.m.

historicpensacola.org | 850.595.5985 | wdavis4@uwf.edu

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swept deeply moving GetGet Get swept swept up up inupin this inthis this deeply deeply moving moving tale of enduring love and the tale tale of enduring of enduring love love and the and anguish theanguish anguish lost, illustrated through lush of oflove oflove love lost, lost, illustrated illustrated through through lush lush orchestration characters that touch orchestration orchestration andand characters and characters that touch that touch thethe the very heart ofof our humanity. very very heart heart of our humanity. our humanity.

850-432-5226 997 S Palafox St

Jaco’s Bayfront

Bar & Grille

On Palafox Marina Overlooking Our beautiful Bayfront

performed with English La LaBohème La Bohème Bohème willwill will bebebe performed performed in inItalian in Italian Italian with with English English translations projected above stage atat the historic Saenger translations translations projected projected above above thethe stage the stage at the historic the historic Saenger Saenger Theatre inindowntown Pensacola.

Theatre Theatre in downtown downtown Pensacola.

Pensacola.

TICKETS START AT JUST $25 TICKETS TICKETS START START AT AT JUST JUST $25 $25

ORDER YOURS TODAY! ORDER ORDER YOURS YOURS TODAY! TODAY! Order now toto be guaranteed Order Order now now to be guaranteed be guaranteed thethe the best remaining seats before they out. best best remaining remaining seats seats before before they they sellsell out. sell out.

Call (850) 433-6737 Call Call (850) (850) 433-6737 433-6737 oror pensacolaopera.com orpensacolaopera.com pensacolaopera.com Michael Michael Michael Greutman Greutman Greutman

jacosbayfront.com

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In which we unfairly judge upcoming attractions based solely on their trailers.

By Josh Newby.

SELMA RELEASE DATE: January 9 CAST: David Oyelowo, Carmen Ejogo, Tom Wilkinson THE GAMBLER RELEASE DATE: January 1 CAST: Mark Wahlberg, Jessica Lange, John Goodman, Brie Larson What I got from the preview: Mark Wahlberg plays the most muscular and stylish lit professor that I think exists in this movie about a gambler who borrows money from his mother and a loan shark in order to pay off his debts, offering his life as collateral, which I didn’t know was a viable equity option. There are other interweaving stories about a relationship with one of his students, the double-crossing of multiple creditors and crime bosses, and a weird father figure who looks on with interest.

Most notable for: The movie promises a very Matchstick Men-style aesthetic, which will probably attract fans of crime movies with a healthy bit of dry, wry humor. Other than that, the cast, which includes the ageless John Goodman and the equally ageless Jessica Lange, is the most attractive thing about this overdone story.

Unqualified critical observation: This movie technically came out over the holidays, but won’t hit our oft-overlooked corner of the nation until New Year’s. As such, it seems to pale in comparison to other options during a time when studios generally offer up their most entertaining and thought-provoking films, but feels right at home in the lowexpectation month of January.

BLACKHAT RELEASE DATE: January 16 CAST: Chris Hemsworth, Viola Davis What I got from the preview: The world’s markets are in turmoil and online security is at an all-time low. No, this isn’t 2007 or your father-in-law’s paranoid fever dream; it’s the latest movie to explore online dependency and the power that effective hackers and criminals can hold over our lives. A person known as Blackhat is behind the latest perversion of technology, and an ex-con leads a group of operatives on a chase to stop the madness in this surprisingly gritty retelling of an unsurprising story.

Most notable for: If the source material seems less than notable, consider the talent behind and in front of the screen. You have director Michael Mann (Heat, The Insider); Chris Hemsworth (Thor, Rush), who is shedding his pretty boy persona for more serious roles recently; and Viola Davis (The Help, Prisoners, How To Get Away With Murder).

Unqualified critical observation: In an otherwise pretty lackluster month, this and Selma stand alone as the bright spots that offer escapism, cultural commentary, or both. If this came out in the summer or fall months, I wouldn’t bother. But as it comes out in the ordinarily destitute beginning of the year, I might join Hemsworth and company for this globe-trotting adventure.

What I got from the preview: With gritty detail, sweeping cinematography and stand-out performances, this movie promises the version of the iconic Selma events as they deserve to be told.

This pivotal moment of race relations in our country centers on Martin Luther King, Jr. and the civil rights marches he led in Alabama that culminated in the signing of the Voting Rights Act. Most notable for: This material has been handled before, with movies like Malcolm X and Selma,

Fi l m

Lord, Selma. Those movies took some artistic license, though, while being superior entertainment. The trailer promises a film that marries excellent craftsmanship and topnotch entertainment with the truest possible version of the story.

Unqualified critical observation: Released during the holiday season but not reaching our fair shores until January 9, rest assured that you will still be able to experience film-making at its finest during the otherwise dull month of January.

THE WEDDING RINGER RELEASE DATE: January 16 CAST: Kevin Hart, Josh Gad, Kaley Cuoco What I got from the preview: A friendless schlub with a wedding on the horizon enlists the services of a company that specializes in providing best men to other friendless schlubs. Hart plays the titular character, who must recruit his own friends to join him and fill out the rest of the wedding party. What follows are the predictable hijinks, misunderstandings, genuine friendships and top-40 songs that must accompany these sorts of things.

Most notable for: Funnyman Hart is at his best when he is being foul-mouthed, unapologetic, and putting a dark spin on observational humor, not when he is being neutered and forced to recite lines written by comics several rungs lower than him on the comedic ladder. His presence in this movie that is otherwise full of television actors is the most notable—and baffling—element of this movie.

Unqualified critical observation: Destined to play during the mid-afternoon block of Comedy Central and FX programming immediately after filling the $5 DVD bin at Walmart, I would warn against wasting money on this trivial piece of screen-filler. I wouldn’t go even if someone paid me to be their friend and accompany them.

PROJECT ALMANAC RELEASE DATE: January 30 CAST: Amy Landlecker, Jonny Weston, Sofia Black-D’Elia What I got from the preview: A group of fun-loving, technology-wielding teens discovers a time machine in this found footage movie that wants you to think it’s like Chronicle but is likely more similar to any of the other mockumentary-style cash grabs from the last decade. After discovering the time machine, they of course use it for fun at first, but soon create paradoxes and begin wreaking havoc on everyone’s—including their own—lives.

Most notable for: The target audience, young teenagers, is one that is too often overlooked by Hollywood, and I suppose the fact that a movie with that demographic got any budget, albeit one that necessitated the least expensive form of filmmaking, is admirable.

Unqualified critical observation: Eh. It looks enjoyable enough for what it is, which is an unenjoyable, derivative, predictable and nausea-inducing 105 minutes.

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This is a train.

Extreme

MAKE OVER

O

ne of Pensacola’s most popular landmarks, the 17th Ave. railroad trestle—better known as the graffiti bridge—is finally getting the artful touch and wider recognition it deserves. Everyday for one year, from Jan. 1, 2011 to Jan. 11, 2012, Pensacolian Rachael Pongetti photographed the unofficial community art medium. Now, in 2015, her photographs will be on display in dual exhibitions at First City Art Center and the Pensacola Museum of Art. The project has gone through many changes throughout its course, much like the bridge itself. It all started when Pongetti’s good friend Burton Ritchie proposed the idea.

“I was really into another project and having success with that at the time,” said Pongetti. “I kind of dismissed it at first. But then he mentioned it again and my ears sort of perked up.”

It was during this time that Pongetti had been reading

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a lot about the philosophy of change, and she thought that the changing bridge, a social construction of Pensacola’s collective thoughts at any given moment, would be the perfect platform to explore this idea through art.

“The way I’m able to process change most directly is through my lens,” said Pongetti. “The bridge changes every day and I was able to learn to watch all that comes from change. Sometimes the bridge was artistic and beautiful; other times there was something very unartistic there. So you find all of this range of emotions that you’re going through and I was learning to really observe the change instead of becoming attached to it.”

Sometimes, Pongetti would spend hours a day at the Pensacola Bay fixture, just taking in all the beauty and spontaneity. Other days, she would take her shot and leave in as little as 15 minutes.

Now, more than four years after the project began, it is coming to an end. In April 2015, First City Art Center will host an exhibition of the photos spotlighting the more grungy aspect, along with live painting, music, and group participation. The Pensacola Museum of Art exhibit will highlight the more visual and intimate aspects of the project. The details of the PMA installation are still being worked out.

Pongetti has also started a Kickstarter campaign to

BY JOSH NEWBY PHOTO BY RACHAEL PONGETTI

365 DAYS WORTH OF TANTALIZING ART AND THRILLING STORIES

raise the money for a book, which will showcase all the best pictures.

“The community is going to have to come forth and help make the book, which I think is great,” said Pongetti.

“It is a community bridge and the community is going to be what brings this book to life.”

Throughout it all, Pongetti observed change.

Sometimes the change was on a very myopic, individual level, like when crudely-done spray paint strokes conveyed an homage to a lost loved one. Other times, the bridge was a symbol of events bigger than itself, with paintings portraying the death of Osama bin Laden and the Occupy Wall Street movement.

“Sometimes the change was so abrupt,” said Pongetti. “It was such a metaphor for life, really. What it taught me was that even though somebody’s story is covered up and changed it’s really never gone, and that’s the same with people. People’s lives and their stories are written on that bridge and they tell something that’s very important, and even though it’s gone in a matter of a few hours, it’s really not gone; it simply became a layer.”

For more information, visit facebook.com/pages/ Pensacola-Graffiti-Bridge-Project.

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#

Live your life with theirs in mind.

Together let’s start planning for your family’s future.

Laurie Guthrie Agent, New York Life Insurance Company 7282 Plantation Road, Suite 400 Pensacola, FL 32504 (850) 384-8698 cguthrie@ft.newyorklife.com laurieguthrie.com Registered Representatives offering investments through NYLIFE Securities LLC (Member FINRA/ SIPC), A Licensed Insurance Agency.

Life Insurance. Retirement. Investments.

SMRU496908(Exp.01/11/2015) © 2013 New York Life Insurance Company, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010

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To advertise here, call Becky Hildebrand, 433-1166, ext. 31, or Malcolm Ballinger, 433-1166, ext. 27.

26 Jan 2015 downtowncrowd.com

Word on the St r e e t

Free Fitness Classes at Maritime Park Saturdays

Stay fit throughout the winter at free fitness classes held each Saturday in the Community Maritime Park. All are welcome to attend. Join the kick off celebration Saturday, Jan. 3 for classes all morning from 9 am till noon. For more information visit facebook.com/communitymaritimepark or call 436.5670.

Four Pensacola Restaurants Receive Golden Spoon Awards

Four Pensacola restaurants have been awarded the coveted Golden Spoon Award, an honor created by Florida Trend magazine 40 years ago to recognize the state’s best places to dine. Two of them were also named to the Golden Spoon Hall of Fame, an elite list reserved for restaurants that have earned repeated Golden Spoons. Pensacola led all of northwest Florida in the number of awards received in a market. Jackson’s Steakhouse, McGuire’s, Global Grill and new entrant Restaurant IRON each received a Golden Spoon Award. McGuire’s and Jackson’s were also named to the Golden Spoon Hall of Fame—a repeat performance for each. The Golden Spoons are awarded annually to just 100 or so of the thousands of restaurants in Florida, recognizing individual achievement and distinctive contributions to the Florida restaurant scene.

New Downtown Concert Band

Downtown Pensacola welcomes a newly formed musical group, The Pensacola Bay Concert Band. The group play traditional concert band repertoire in a fun, relaxed, friendly, non-competitive setting. The group is currently for percussion and wind instrument players. This is a self-supported, all volunteer group that is a member of the New Horizon’s International Music Association. The Pensacola Bay Concert Band is conducted by Tony Chiarito, a long time staple and current member of the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra and is also searching for a co-conductor to be decided by band membership. The group will perform two free concerts per year and rehearse every Monday night from 6:30 pm-8 pm. The band is sponsored by Schmidt’s Music and Repair through their instrument rental and repair programs, as well as their on-site lessons and the free rehearsal space is provided by Christ Church Parish. For more information, contact Greg Vannoy at vankoz11@ gmail.com or 292.4105

Martin Luther King, Come Downtown for the 2015 Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade at 11 am on Jan. 19. Parade route begins at Spring & Garden Streets; travels east to Palafox; turns north onto Palafox; Palafox to Jr. Parade Wright Street, and turns left; turns left onto Palafox; travels south on Palafox to Main Street.

Jan. 19

2015 Cordova Mall Ball Jan. 24

Celebrate Mardi Gras in style each year at the Mall Ball at Cordova Mall! Put on your best Mardi Gras gown, get decked out in a tux or best suit and come down to the best Mardi Gras party in town, held Jan. 24 from 8 pm-12 am. This annual party is held by the Krewe of Les Petits Enfants (the Order of the Small Children) to benefit the sick and injured children and infants at The Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart in Pensacola. Guests must be 21 or older to attend. Bars close at 11:30 pm. Due to its high popularity, only 2,500 tickets are available. For tickets or more information visit sacred-heart.org/mallball. downtowncrowd.com Jan 2015

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Da t e l i ne D o w n t o wn

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Built to Amaze at the Pensacola Bay Center Jan. 15-18 Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents Built To Amaze!® — Nuts & Boltz Edition is an extraordinarily engineered circus experience where children of all ages find out what it takes to build The Greatest Show On Earth. The foundation is set with the rising anticipation of high-energy, hijinks and hilarity. The audience will be transported by the appearance of colorful circus machinery unleashed from shipping crates right before their eyes from Jan. 15-18 at Pensacola Bay Center.

The party starts at Ringling Bros.® Presents Built To Amaze!® — Nuts & Boltz Edition with the All Access Pre-show an hour before show time, where everyone is invited to join the fun on the arena floor and meet the international cast of performers. Audiences can pick up hip dance moves during the dance party, try on custom costumes, learn circus skills like juggling from the famous Ringling Bros. Clown Alley and even have the opportunity to witness and win a one-of-a-kind masterpiece created by one of the world-famous Ringling Bros. painting pachyderms! Tickets for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents Built To Amaze! — Nuts & Boltz Edition start at $14. All seats are reserved, and tickets are available at pensacolabaycenter.com, Rodizio Grill Box Office, Ticketmaster Outlets, and by calling 800.745.3000.

Lost Virtue: Pensacola’s Red Light District at the Destination Archaeology Resource Center Through January The Florida Public Archaeology Network (FPAN) is opening a new temporary exhibit titled Lost Virtue: Pensacola’s Red Light District inside the Destination Archaeology Resource Center.

While the women who worked in Pensacola’s red light district left few written records behind, archaeology is helping to tell their story. Several artifacts associated with the women who worked in Pensacola’s red light district during the late 1800s and early 1900s uncovered through archaeology will be on display for the first time. The DARC is located on the first floor of the Florida Public Archaeology Network headquarters at 207 East Main St. (next to Fish House). Admission is free.

The exhibit will be on display until the end of January 2015.

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Beaches, Creatures & Cowboys: Florida Movie Posters at the T.T. Wentworth Museum Through Feb. 5 Florida has provided the perfect backdrop for movie magic for many years. Come learn what movies from sci-fi classics to modern favorites.

Exhibit is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am until 4 pm in the T. T. Wentworth, Jr. Florida State Museum located at 330 S. Jefferson St. For more information visit historicpensacola.org.

Ice Flyers 2014-2015 Season The back-to-back SPHL champions the Pensacola Ice Flyers are back at the Pensacola Bay Center for thrilling ice hockey. For more information call 432.0800.

Jan. 2 vs. Mississippi RiverKings Jan. 3 vs. Columbus Cottonmouths Jan. 22 vs. Fayetteville FireAntz Jan. 23 vs. Fayetteville FireAntz Jan. 31 vs. Peoria Rivermen

Florida Trail Association Downtown First Friday Dinner Walk Jan. 2 Join the Florida Trail Association for the First Friday Dinner Walk Jan. 2 from 6 - 9 pm, starting at the First United Methodist Church at 6 E. Wright St. This Friday evening the group will walk down Palafox and enjoy the beautiful Christmas decorations that are still up and crisp winter weather, all the way to Jaco’s where everyone will enjoy supper before returning. Contact Peggy Grantham 982.9490 or sign up at the Meetup site meetup.com/ftawesterngate.

Atlas Beverage Classes at the Fish House Deck Jan. 8 Atlas Oyster House presents the next installment of Atlas Beverage Classes (A.B.C.). This semester will feature handcrafted beers, two featured spirit brands, and now cocktails with beverage director Josh Goldman, each paired with small

Dateline Downtown plates. Classes are held on the Deck Bar the first Thursday of the month and will feature a presenter for four tastings. Classes begin at 6 pm and cost is $20 per person (plus tax and gratuity). The Jan. 8 class will feature the Grayton Brewery.

Reservations are required. Call 516.2324 to reserve a seat.

Beautiful Beginnings Bridal Expo at the Pensacola Bay Center Jan. 11 Coastal Wedding Magazine and The Knot are proud to present the 12th Annual Beautiful Beginnings Bridal Expo, Sunday, Jan. 11, from 11 am to 4 pm at Pensacola Bay Center. The event includes 110+ vendors that will be on hand with information, samples and displays, featuring everything you need for the perfect wedding. Be sure to stay for the 3 pm runway show featuring spring fashions for the bride, groom, mothers and guests. Brides and grooms-to-be are eligible to register for door prizes and must be present to win! Tickets are $12.50 at the Rodizio Grill Box Office on the day of the event. Children 12 and under get in free. For more details visit coastalweddingsinc.com.

City Trolley Tour Jan. 13, 15, 20, 22, 27, 29 All aboard the Snowbird Express for a narrated tour of historic Downtown Pensacola. Tours depart from the Visit Pensacola Visitors Information Center and run on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 am and 2 pm only. Reservations are required, as seating is limited. For more information call 941.2876.

The Pensacola Humane Society Winter Wednesday Jan. 14 Commemorate Winter Wednesday and celebrate white furry friends with the Pensacola Humane Society on Jan. 14. The Pensacola Humane Society will offer a discounted adoption fee for cats and dogs with white or light colored fur—$40 for dogs and $10 for cats. Please help these pets find their forever homes. Visit pensacolahumane. org for more information. The Pensacola Humane Society is a not-for-profit, no-kill shelter for homeless, abandoned and neglected cats and dogs and is located at 5 N. Q St. Cooking Demonstrations & Wine Pairings with Chef Irv Miller Jan. 14 Enjoy a Cooking Demonstration and Wine Pairing at Jackson’s Steakhouse with Chef Irv Miller. For the Jan. 14 demonstration Chef Irv will present “Artisan Cheeses.” Tickets are $45 and there will be two seatings at 5 - 6:30 pm and 7:30 - 9 pm.

For reservations call 217.2347.

Great American Chili Cook-off at Seville Square Jan. 17 With beans, without beans, white, red, easy to eat or hot—you’ll find every type of chili imaginable at Seville Quarter’s Great American Chili Cook-off.

On Saturday, Jan. 17 in Phineas Phogg’s teams will compete for bragging rights for the best chili in Pensacola. Each concoction will be judged on taste, smell and consistency and trophies will be awarded to the top three winners. In addition there is a Showmanship trophy (decoration and entertainment) as well as the coveted People’s Choice trophy. Cooking begins at noon and the judging begins at 4 pm. The public tasting is from 4 to 6 pm and admission is $10 per person at the door with the proceeds going to the Seville Sertoma Club. For more information visit sevillequarter.com.

John Maxwell Live at the Pensacola Bay Center Jan. 26 Make plans to join the Pensacola Bay Area for a life changing experience at John Maxwell Live. This event, taking place Jan. 26, is a great opportunity for personal development for you and your teams and the day includes special guest speaker, Nick Vujici, a motivational speaker born without arms and legs. Dr. John C. Maxwell is an internationally respected leadership expert, speaker, trainer, coach and author of more than 74 leadership books, with over 22 million copies sold. He has trained some 6 million leaders in 185 countries. Each year he speaks to the leaders of Fortune 500 companies, foreign governments, and diverse organizations worldwide. The presentation will be from 10 am to 4:30 pm. Tickets are available at pensacolabaycenter.com or at the Rodizio Grill Box Office on the day of the show.

Gala of the Royal Horses at the Pensacola Bay Center Jan. 28 For the first time ever, The Gala of The Royal Horses Inaugural North American world-renowned equestrian tour is coming to Pensacola Bay Center, Wednesday, Jan. 28. Audiences will experience the excitement, splendor, and majesty of the Gala of the Royal Horses at this spectacular entertainment event combining the most beautiful horses in the world with live performers creating a breathtaking event for the entire family. The Royal Horses of Europe are some of the most celebrated in history, favored for centuries by royalty, equestrian riders and bullfighters.

This performance will celebrate the tradition, athleticism and grace of these revered creatures.

Tickets start at only $29, $39.50, $50 or $60.50 and are available at the at the Rodizio Grill Box Office and at pensacolabaycenter.com.

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Ar t · M u s i c · T h e atre The PMA Presents Alice in Wonderland Through Jan. 31 Follow the rabbit hole down as the Pensacola Museum of Art presents a whimsical journey into Wonderland through the paintings of Stefani Joseph. Alice in Wonderland brings Lewis Carroll’s beloved novel to life through oil on canvas. Joseph is a British figurative painter and professor at the Savannah College of Art & Design. Her work has been exhibited in over 100 group exhibitions in addition to a number of solo shows in the United States, London, Beijing, Honk Kong, Seoul, Ibiza, and Perpignan, France. For more information visit pensacolamuseum.org.

Quayside Art Gallery Presents The New Q’s on the Block Jan. 8 - Feb. 9 Join Quayside Gallery in welcoming its newest exhibit The New Q’s on the Block, on display Jan. 8 - Feb. 23.

Each January Quayside applauds new artists who’ve joined Quayside Art Gallery during the previous year.

New Qs on the Block showcases the talents of eight artist spanning the mediums of photography, acrylic, pencil, watercolor, mixed media, stained glass and fiber.

Featured artists are Gail Bachorik, Billie Bailey, Edward Cooper, Paul Crawford, Sandy Ford, Anna Kern, Jane Morton, Nancy Schrock. An opening reception will be held Jan. 23 from 5-8 pm at the gallery. Quayside is located at 15 -17 E. Zarragosa. For more information visit quaysidegallery.com.

Improvable Cause at PLT Jan. 17 Improvable Cause is Pensacola’s best (and only) improvisational comedy troupe performing at 10:30 pm at the Pensacola Little Theatre. Improv is unscripted theatre where dialogue is created instantaneously.

Tickets are $7 available at the PLT box office prior to shows. For more information visit pensacolalittletheatre. com.

Blue Monday at V. Paul’s Italian Ristorante Jan. 5 Blue Monday is Jazz Society of Pensacola’s “Blues” night at V. Paul’s Italian Ristorante, and the Jan. 5 edition will feature Jones & Company. The public is invited and welcome to attend. The restaurant offers a special menu of fine Italian cuisine as well as a full bar. Admission is $10 for JSOP members and guests, $15 for non-members, $5 for students with ID and free admission for military in uniform. Seating is first come, first served. Join the Jazz Society of Pensacola at this event and admission is free. For more information visit jazzpensacola.com.

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PLT Auditions for You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown Jan. 5 & 6 Ready to be a musical star? No experience necessary!

Come on out to Pensacola Little Theatre and audition for You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown on Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 5 and 6 at 7 pm. PLT is looking for actors ages 16-26. Come prepared to move. For more information on character roles and audition, please call the box office at 432.2042 or visit pensacolalittletheatre.com. Performances run March 6-8 and 12-15.

WUWF Radiolive Jan. 8 WUWF’s RadioLive is back for the first Thursday of each month at the Museum of Commerce at 201 E. Zaragoza St. Concerts start at 6 pm. This concert will feature the Write Brothers: Spencer Bohren, Paul Sanchez, Alex McMurray, and Jim McCormick.

Admission is free, but please bring canned food or money to donate to Manna Food Bank. For more information visit wuwf.org.

Pensacola Symphony Orchestra Presents Beethoven & Blue Jeans Jan. 10 Join the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra for the popular Beethoven & Blue Jeans concert at the Saenger Theatre at 8 pm, Jan. 10. This concert is part of the Masterworks Series and will feature trombone soloist Joseph Alessi. Musical selections will include Beethoven, Part, Crespo, Bernstein, Tovey and Ives.

Tickets range from $22-$84 and are available at pensacolasaenger.com.

Choral Society of Pensacola Announces Auditions Jan. 10 The Choral Society of Pensacola – Northwest Florida’s premier symphonic chorus – will hold auditions for new singers on Saturday, Jan. 10 in Room 801 of the Pensacola State College Ashmore Fine Arts Auditorium, 1000 College Blvd. Auditions will be held from 10 am to 12 pm. Choral Society Artistic Director, Xiaolun Chen, will conduct the auditions, which take place in a very relaxed and non-threatening atmosphere. Call Mr. Chen at 484.1810 for more information. Auditions on other days can be arranged by special appointment.

Sister Act at the Saenger Theatre Jan. 12 Sister Act, Broadway’s feel-amazing musical comedy smash, is coming to the Saenger Jan. 12. Featuring original music by eight-time Oscar® winner Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid,

Little Shop of Horrors), Sister Act tells the story of Deloris Van Carier, a wannabe diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a crime and the cops hide her in the last place anyone would think to look—a convent! Under the suspicious watch of Mother Superior, Deloris helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own. Tickets start at $58 and are available through the Saenger Theatre box office or pensacolasaenger.com.

PLT Presents Ordinary People Jan. 16-18, 22-24 Pensacola Little Theatre presents a Studio 400 production of Ordinary People, based on the novel

by Judith Guest. Conrad Jarrett had an older brother named Buck, and now Buck is gone. What’s left of young Conrad’s family, with his successful, wellintentioned father and his beautiful, organized and remote mother, is in terrible jeopardy, as is Conrad himself. They are all “ordinary people” and each is fighting a hard battle. This play goes to the essence of a young man, his friends and family, their relationships and survival. This show is rated R and tickets are $10 general admission and $17 limited café seating.

Tickets are available at the PLT box office or at pensacolalittletheatre.com.

Fill A Bowl for MANNA Jan. 17 Pensacola State College, MANNA, and Gulf Power Co. proudly celebrate MANNA Food Pantries’ more than 30 years of serving the hungry in our local communities with the annual Fill A Bowl for MANNA event, Saturday, Jan. 17, 1-3 pm, at the Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio on Pensacola State College campus. The public is encouraged to attend the event and to select a bowl from a colorful variety of hand-made bowls by area artists and Pensacola State College Visual Arts faculty and students. Participants will fill their bowls with soups prepared by some of Pensacola’s most popular chefs and eateries. While filling a bowl with sumptuous soup, you will be helping MANNA fill the empty bowls of more than 40,000 people in Northwest Florida. The $30 entry fee entitles guests to take their bowl home as a keepsake. Sponsors include Pensacola State College, PSC Visual Arts Department, Gulf Power, MANNA, local artists, and local vendors. Proceeds from the sale of the bowls benefit MANNA directly by providing food for the hungry. Reservations are requested but walkins are welcome. Pay online at mannafoodpantries. org, or mail checks to Manna, 116 E. Gonzalez Street, Pensacola, FL 32501.

Ar t · Music · Theatre Jazz Gumbo at Phineas Phogg’s Jan. 19 The Jazz Society of Pensacola presents its monthly edition of Jazz Gumbo held the third Monday of each month at Seville Quarter in Phineas Phogg’s. Doors open at 5:30 pm and the concert begins at 6:30 pm. Admission is $10 for JSOP members, $15 for nonmembers, $5 for students and free for military members in uniform. For more information visit jazzpensacola.com.

Pensacola Symphony Orchestra Presents Mozart Madness Jan. 31 Join the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra for a relaxed concert in an intimate setting, featuring the music of Mozart, Jan. 31 at First Baptist Church in Downtown Pensacola. The program will feature Mozart’s Requiem Mass. This concert will be about an hour long with no intermission. All seats are general admission $10. For tickets visit pensacolasymphonyorchestra.com.

Brad Paisley at the Pensacola Bay Center Jan. 23 Country superstar Brad Paisley will be live in concert at the Pensacola Bay Center Friday, Jan. 23 at 8 pm.

Brad Paisley is a critically acclaimed singer, songwriter, guitarist and entertainer whose talents have earned him numerous awards, including three Grammys, two American Music Awards, 14 Academy of Country Music Awards and 14 Country Music Association Awards (including Entertainer of the Year), among many others. A proud member of the Grand Ole Opry since 2001, Paisley earned the first of his 22 #1 singles in 1999, writing or co-writing 19 of them.

Special guests on the tour will be Stoney Creek Records family band Parmalee and Arista Nashville recording duo The Swon Brothers. Tickets are $29, $49, or $59 and are available at Pensacolabaycenter. com, Rodizio Grill Box Office and ticketmaster.com.

Blue Morning Gallery New Blues Show January Join Blue Morning Gallery for the New Blues Show to begin Dec. 28. Join our newest “Blues,” Blue Morning Gallery members, in the debut collection on display in January. New Blue members include: Suzette Brooks, Tim Brooks, Frank Brueske, Maria Hoch, Bernd Owsnicki-Kiewe, and Rafi Perez. Blue Morning Gallery is located at 21 Palafox Pl. For information, call 429.9100 or visit bluemorninggallery.com.

Escambia All County Band at the Saenger Theatre Jan. 27 Experience the best of the best of the Escambia County School District bands in this free concert at the Saenger Theatre Tuesday, Jan. 27 at 7 pm. All seats are general admission. For information visit pensacolasaenger.com.

Guys And Dolls at the Saenger Theatre Jan. 29 Guys And Dolls comes to the Saenger Theatre Jan. 29 at 7:30 pm. Set in Damon Runyon’s mythical New York City, this oddball romantic comedy – considered by many to be the perfect musical comedy – soars with the spirit of Broadway as it introduces us to a cast of vivid characters who have become legends in the canon: Sarah Brown, the upright but uptight “mission doll,” out to reform the evildoers of Times Square; Sky Masterson, the slick, high-rolling gambler who woos her on a bet and ends up falling in love; Adelaide, the chronically ill nightclub performer whose condition is brought on by the fact she’s been engaged to the same man for 14 years; and Nathan Detroit, her devoted fiancé, desperate as always to find a spot for his infamous floating craps game. Tickets start at $48 and are available through the Saenger Theatre box office or pensacolasaenger.com.

New Addition to PMA’s Permanent Collection Unveiled The latest addition to the Pensacola Museum of Art’s Permanent Collection was unveiled last month.

Abraham Lincoln, Daniel Chester French, modeled in 1916, cast in 1991, bronze, was a generous gift to the Collection from Don Partington and Vaughan Hedrick—the most valuable single piece ever donated.

Daniel Chester French is best recognized for his Abraham Lincoln statue in the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., and he’s a well-known American sculptor from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

For more information about the PMA or the piece, visit pensacolamuseum.org.

At Seville Quarter This Month Seville Quarter hosts a variety of entertainment from a wide array of genres. For more information check out SevilleQuarter.com.

Mondays: Monday Night Blues Tuesdays: Jazz Jam Wednesday-Saturday: Dueling Piano Show Jan. 1-4: Jordan Richards Jan. 2-4: The Modern Eldorados Jan. 2: Bad Habits Jan. 6-7: Mike Quinn Jan. 8: Lyon’s Limozine Jan. 17: 2015 Chili Cook Off At Vinyl Music Hall This Month Vinyl Music Hall hosts a huge variety of musical acts featuring many musical styles. For more information check out vinylmusichall.com.

Jan. 2: Charles Bradley & his Extraordinaires, Deadly Fists of Kung Fu Jan. 7: Puddles Pity Party Jan. 9: Big Deal Burlesque—The Best of the Big Easy Jan. 10: Honey Island Swamp Band, Edward David Anderson Jan. 14: Of Montreal, Nedelle Torrisi Jan. 15: Rebirth Brass Band, Hotel Oscar Jan. 17: The Return—The Best of the Early Beatles Jan. 18: For Today, Phinehas, SilentPlanet Jan. 20: Gaeilic Storm, Drunker Shade of Green Jan. 21: Paper Diamond, Nadastrom, Torro Torro Jan. 24: Cedric Burnside, Chain Smoking Hags Jan. 25: St. Paul & the Broken Bones, Humming House Jan. 27: Galactic, Monophonics Jan. 30: Zach Deputy, Post Pluto

Fish House Deck Bar Weekly Music Schedule Sunday: Regional acts at 8 pm.

Monday: Open at 4 pm.

Tuesday: Lucas Crutchfield from 6 - 10 pm Wednesday: Lucas Crutchfield 5 - 9 pm; at 9 pm a regional band will play until midnight. Regional bands are What was the name of the infamous changed weekly DTC QUIZ Red Light District madame?

Thursday: Lucas Crutchfield 6 - 10 pm Friday: Lucas Crutchfield 5 - 9 Prize: Tickets to PLT’s “Ordinary People” or pm; regional band begins at 9 pm “The Last Night of Ballyhoo.”

Saturday: Regional bands Deadline to enter is January 15. begin at 9 pm.

Answers may be emailed, faxed or mailed (no telephone entries). On the 15th of the month, the winner will be selected at random.

The Rules: Employees and family members of Ballinger Publishing and the Downtown Improvement Board are ineligible for prizes. Ballinger Publishing is not responsible for restrictions of each prize. Winners are chosen at random from a pool of eligible respondents. Daytime phone number MUST be provided with submissions. Winners will be contacted by phone.

Winners are ineligible to win again for a 6-month period. IMPORTANT: All entries MUST be sent by E-MAIL (emily@ballingerpublishing.com), FAX 435-9174, or MAIL (PO Box 12665, Pensacola, FL 32591). Entries must be in by the 15th by noon. NO TELEPHONE ENTRIES.

downtowncrowd.com Jan 2015

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