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DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 1
DOWNTOWN 4
CROWD
Josh Newby, editor
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This month’s issue contains a hodgepodge of seemingly disparate themes and stories. We’ve got kids, healthcare, dueling pianos and Star Wars. The one thread tying them all together, of course, is Pensacola. The same could be said for the many populations who call this city home. We come from different backgrounds and may be interested in different issues, but sharing the struggles and victories of this area unites in a way that transcends our differences and binds us together. We may not agree on much, but we most likely agree on Pensacola. One issue on which you’ll find much disagreement, however, is Gallery Night. It has long been a backroom thorn in the side of Pensacola politics, infrastructure and business. While it has certainly been successful at raising Downtown awareness, many believe the cost of that victory is too high
4 Sacred Heart Gets a New Beat 7 Good Night Gallery Night 9 Dueling Interview 10 Hapless Happenings 13 May the Fourth Be With You 14 Gallery Night Guide
May to continue paying. As Downtown’s signature event comes to an end in September, we take an in-depth look at its history, controversy and get both sides of the frustrating story on page 7. Following this theme of dissimilarity, we present a whole host of fun events, happenings, people and opportunities that will likely draw people together. Few things in town unite young and old, rich and poor, in a singular voice like Seville Quarter’s Dueling Piano show. You may not know much, but you most likely know the chorus to “Sweet Caroline.” And, of course, so do the hundreds of others gathered together nearly every night of the week in Rosie O’Grady’s. The dueling pianists’ craft has always fascinated me, and last month I was able to catch up with one and learn some secrets of the trade. The Pensacola Museum of Art is uniting two very distinct exhibits this month with one traditional exhibition of portraiture and another that examines the relationship between the opposites that are light and dark. Jedi or Sith? The two have more in common than you may realize, but on page 13, in honor of Star Wars Day, we break down various popular Downtown activities into their light and dark qualities so that you can discover for yourself whether you are a member of the rebellion or the Empire. There are a host of other articles, of course, each touching on the differences that unite us. I hope you enjoy this issue.
17 Brave New World 18 City Camps 21 Film 22 Word on the Street 24 Dateline Downtown 26 Art • Music • Theatre
Publisher Malcolm Ballinger Owners Malcolm & Glenys Ballinger Executive Editor Kelly Oden Editor Josh Newby Art Director Guy Stevens Graphic Design and Ad Coordination Anna Hitchcock Editor + Downtown Crowd Layout Josh Newby Editorial Assistant Dawn Gresko
Advertising Account Executives Paula Rode paula@ballingerpublishing.com
Deadline for space and information is the 15th of the month prior to publication. For advertising rates or news tips contact Phone: 433-1166 · Fax: 435-9174
DOWNTOWN CROWD is published by Ballinger Publishing. Offices located at 314 N Spring St., Ste. A, Pensacola Florida 32502
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 Anna Hitchcock 2 | DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM
Evenings & Sundays Half-Price
T. T. Wentworth, Jr, Museum 330 South Jefferson Street Thurs – Sat, 4-7 p.m. Sun, Noon-4 p.m. All tickets to Historic Pensacola are valid for seven days and include access to all museums and tours. Come explore!
historicpensacola.org | 850.595.5990
DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 3
SACRED HEART GETS A NEW BEAT BY DAWN GRESKO
D
owntown living just got a little more healthy thanks in particular to one new resident: Sacred Heart Family and Sports Medicine Clinic. Since April 4, the new member of the Downtown Crowd has been serving new and returning patients, who want not only to receive treatment from the amazing care team, but who are also excited to check out the unique sports-themed facility. The clinic’s unique beat in Downtown Pensacola places it a hop and a skip away from Wahoos Stadium and Maritime Park. In fact, the clinic’s location played a role in influencing the facility’s focus on sports medicine combined with traditional family medicine. Another factor was Sacred Heart Medical Group’s decision to recognize seven Pensacola athletes, who the group felt aligned well with their own mission: to give back and care for the community. Some of the athletes you may recognize by name or by team: Doug Baldwin, Jr. (NFL wide receiver), Derrick Brooks (NFL linebacker), Justin Gatlin (Olympic sprinter), Fred Robbins (NFL defensive tackle), Buck Showalter (manager of Baltimore Orioles), and Michelle Snow (WNBA center). Each athlete donated a total of ten items of sports memorabilia, which are showcased in the halls, as well as six patient rooms and two physician offices. These souvenirs include five jerseys autographed by the entire team of Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Derrick Brooks), as well as a basketball signed by WNBA star Michelle Snow. “Patients ask if they get to choose the room they see their doctor in,” said Justin Labrato, vice president/COO of Sacred Heart Medical Group. “The answer is yes! That is the charm and uniqueness of this clinic. Depending on what high school you went to in Pensacola, or what sports team you might follow, you’ll be
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able to pick the room. If I went to Woodham High, for instance, I’ll want to check out the Justin Gatlin room because he went there and I can relate to him because of it.” In addition to a fresh (and sportier) take on a traditional clinic, the Downtown facility will feature updated technology. Remember those time-consuming 30-minute sessions in the waiting room before you see the doctor? A thing of the past, since the introduction of Phreesia tablets. These tablets cut waiting times down by half the original time, so now your waits should range anywhere from 12 to 15 minutes. The system works by automatically sending your data to an electronic medical record system, which means your clinic’s medical assistant doesn’t have to type the information by hand (a longer process no matter how skilled you are at keyboarding). Moreover, the tablet’s card swipe feature allows you to pay for your visit in advance, which only gets you out the door and onto sunnier prospects more quickly. The care team also helps ensure your visit progresses smoothly. The team has nine members: one office manager, three medical assistants, two medical office secretaries and two physicians.
Dr. Jeremiah Dreisbach and Dr. Reed Gahagan are the two doctors in charge of care at this facility. The two bring a unique mix of family and sports medicine expertise to the table. Dr. Dreisbach’s medical interests include musculoskeletal and sports injuries, sports injury prevention, concussion management and keeping all of his patients through health and fitness coaching. On the other hand, Dr. Gahagan’s medical interests include preventative medicine and osteopathic treatment with an expertise in treatment multiple chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension, but he also enjoys geriatrics and treating the entire family while promoting healthy lifestyles. “The feedback has been amazing from local athletes and the community,” said Labrato. “The best part is seeing where these athletes were and how they are bringing their success back home to share with the community.” Get your next check-up at Sacred Heart’s new beat in Downtown Pensacola. Check out sacredheart. org/medicalgroup for more details, or talk to a member of the care team by calling 850-416-7544.
Join us for the 26th Annual
Ki d s’egein Summer 2016 Co ll
More than 50 courses • Flexible schedule Three age groups (Ages 6–12) • Safe environment Parent’s Open House • Tuesday, May 17 4:30–6:30 p.m. • PSC, Bldg. 96, Rm. 9663 Call 850-484-1797 • Visit www.pensacolastate.edu/ce
Pensacola State College does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, color, gender/sex, age, religion, marital status, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or genetic information in its educational programs, activities or employment. For inquiries regarding Title IX and the college’s nondiscrimination policies, contact the Associate Vice President for Institutional Diversity/Title IX Officer at 850-484-1759, Pensacola State College, 1000 College Blvd., Pensacola, Florida 32504.
16928_STC_Kids.indd 1
4/18/16 11:15 AM
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
DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 5
DAVE RAMSEY 1 pm - 4 pm Monday - Sunday
Models starting at $1,999 *Not including taxes, tag, freight and dealer fees.
2-year unlimited mileage warranty 100+ mpg USB port for mobile device charging Available at: Adventure Motorsports of NWF 6330 Pensacola Blvd. in Car City www.adventuremotorsportsofnwf.com 850-466-5324
BRIAN KILMEADE 11 am - 1 pm Weekdays
newsradio1620.com - 850.437.1620
GOOD NIGHT, GALLERY NIGHT BY JOSH NEWBY PHOTO: FRANK ABBOTT
In the year of its 25th anniversary, the popular Downtown event Gallery Night is ending after ongoing difficulties with funding and complaints about the gradual departure from its original mission of spotlighting arts and culture. The news came on April 12 after the Downtown Improvement Board’s (DIB) monthly meeting. The DIB members present voted unanimously to end Gallery Night in September. In the weeks following the decision, the news has had a mixed reception. DIB chairman John Peacock expressed that this change will help return the board to its original goals of removing commercial blight, enhancing property values, encouraging economic development and so on. “The event has served its purpose,” said Peacock. “It has become something else entirely. “We don’t want to wake up Saturday morning and find our streets littered with trash. We don’t want to constantly struggle for funding. To be honest, this conversation started over a year ago.” Gallery Night began in 1991 with eight participating galleries after Andy Witt, executive director of the Arts Council of Northwest Florida, envisioned an event on Friday evenings for art-viewing, wine-tasting and live music. The DIB was one of the first sponsors
of the event. Gallery Nights were initially held three times a year to coincide with spring break, July 4, and Blue Angels schedules before eventually going to 12 nights a year after the DIB took over completely. Soon thereafter, the event began receiving widespread criticism for morphing into a “street party.” Peacock said, while the DIB is ending its facilitation of Gallery Night, he plans for the board to start a new event in the spring of 2017 that focuses more on the arts, an original objective of the event. “The DIB isn’t going to do nothing; it just isn’t going to do this,” said Peacock. “We did a survey and 50 percent of businesses said there would be no negative impact from removing Gallery Night. I was at a rotary meeting and asked people to raise their hands if they’d miss the event. Not a single hand went up. I don’t think very many people are upset.” There are those who are quite upset, of course. One of those is Joe Abston, owner of Hopjacks and The Tin Cow on Palafox. His businesses have experienced record profits on Gallery Night and he says that he and many like him will suffer from the absence.
“The City and the DIB don’t realize the larger impact of what goes on,” said Abston. “It’s a good night for the bars and restaurants, sure, but there’s also a lot of people who plan their regional trips based on Gallery Nights. This is a bigger event than just people in the streets. I would argue Gallery Night made Downtown what it is today, it rejuvenated things, and people don’t remember what those times were like.” Abston went on to say that there’s an element of classism in this decision—that the decision-makers want only highbrow individuals to enjoy what Downtown has to offer. Jim Sweida, former chairman of the DIB’s special events committee and part-operator of Blue Morning Gallery, was equally upset. “Gallery Night is a social event and should be for everyone—rich, poor, white, black, young, old— who wants to enjoy what we’ve become in their own way,” said Sweida. “They’re taking the most popular event in Downtown’s history—something that helped earn Palafox the title of one of the ten best streets in America—and they’re eliminating it. It simply makes no sense.” Sweida believes that the DIB did
GALLERY NIGHT IS A SOCIAL EVENT AND SHOULD BE FOR EVERYONE—RICH, POOR, WHITE, BLACK, YOUNG, OLD. not market the event properly and impress upon Downtown retailers the value of bringing 15,000 potential customers to their doorsteps every month. “There are too many 10 to 5 businesses Downtown,” said Sweida. “Gallery Night should’ve encouraged these retailers to stay open and take advantage of the tens of thousands of people, but instead they don’t know how to use it to their benefit. Maybe if they did, we wouldn’t have a funding problem.” That funding problem was certainly a big one. It costs about $8,500 to run Gallery Night each month between police, insurance and other costs. While Peacock has encouraged private enterprise to take over the responsibility and facilitation, many do not see that as realistic. “I don’t think a private takeover is going to solve the funding problem,” said Abston. “The retailers don’t see the value, but they certainly benefit from the value of increased awareness.” For now, the DIB will focus on holiday lights, beautification and other aspects of Downtown life on
which there is broad consensus. “Gallery Night did some very good things, but it also did some bad things,” said Peacock. “It was a bad atmosphere and a bad image for the city, especially into the later hours. So we’re going to look at what we did well and take away the bad things and hopefully have a great event not called Gallery Night starting next year. If the street party was so important to the Downtown businesses, they would’ve written checks, but they didn’t.” As Gallery Night sunsets and the glow of holiday lights takes it place, the conversation will likely continue for many months. Peacock encourages individuals to participate in board meetings, held the second Tuesday of each month, and Special Events Committee meetings, held the second Wednesday of each month. “It’s sad,” said Abston. “The DIB used to be a place where you could come up with big splashes and talk about big ideas for Downtown. Now it’s a place where we talk about holiday decorations.”
DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 7
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850.696.7461 • studentmaid.com • pensacola@studentmaid.com
Please call 434-7760 to schedule your appointment FINANCIAL AID IS AVAILABLE FOR QUALIFIED FAMILIES
Alex Gartner Incoming Artistic Director
The Show Must Go On
MONTHLY ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT INTERVIEW
AN INTERVIEW WITH DUELING PIANIST DEW PENDLETON · BY JOSH NEWBY Seville Quarter’s dueling piano show in Rosie O’Grady’s is a rollicking good time that starts at 8 pm every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The show is built around performances by talented musicians who know how to work the crowd and probably know about a thousand songs between the four of them, by heart. Playing from the heart means more than just knowing the notes without sheet music; these guys put their soul into every key, striking passion into the hundreds gathered and inspiring us all to access our inner piano man. You’ll hear favorite bar standbys like “Sweet Caroline” and “Jack and Diane” alongside modern-day hits like “Shake It Off” and “Pill In Ibiza,” all while an endless supply of draft beers find their way to your table. If you’ve never felt the raw, tribal sensation of joining in song with hundreds of your fellow Pensacolans, you’re missing out. Downtown Crowd spoke with Dew Pendleton, a long-time dueling pianist about working the crowd, loving your job, and never getting tired of partying with your “Friends in Low Places.” Tell me about the dueling pianos show. Well, I’ve been doing it since 2008 as a full-time gig. We do it every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday and it’s always a great time. Before working here, I had played piano with my mom and a couple different piano players, but nothing super serious. One night, I was here with friends and after karaoke, I began playing the piano in the hallway by the bathrooms at Seville. I was just singing and playing, not very well but with a lot of heart. One of the managers came up, and I guess he was impressed, because he asked if I wanted to maybe do this full-time? He hired me on the spot. Some of the old-school guys trained me. I had to sit on my right hand for six hours a day practicing those bass notes. I think I probably learned a couple hundred songs in like three weeks. It’s been a great experience and honestly I’ve probably forgotten more songs than I remember. Even if someone requests a song I don’t know by heart, I can usually fake it because I can hear the melodic structure in my head. You know, a lot of songs are similar, especially country songs. Nevertheless, I’ve got to keep up to date with what’s on the radio, too. How do you get the crowd going? If you’re not having fun, it’ll really show. So, it’s all about reading the audience. I try to tell myself that it’s like I’m in front of a campfire and there’s a guitar getting passed around, and everyone’s trying to engage their friends and just have a good time. It’s like all your friends are over and you’re just partying. We have a lot of regulars at the show so we try
to keep a down-home feel. It’s really all about atmosphere and using music and charisma to cultivate that atmosphere. About how many songs do you know? Gosh, probably about 200. Some of the other guys know 400 or 500, but we normally play about 200 different songs. You have to know the old favorites, like Elton John and Billy Joel, “Tennessee Whiskey,” Blondie, “Girl Crush,” Brown-Eyed Girl,” and others. And then there’s songs you have to learn because they’re on the radio, like Taylor Swift. You’ll play the same song four or five times a night for months and then never again. It’s kind of funny. Everyone has to hear their favorite radio songs and then they never want to hear it again. Tell me about playing off your partner. We really try to accentuate each other and have a partnership. We’ll play back ad forth, maybe jump on the drums or fiddle, but really just try to hang out and have fun. We want to have the best time every night. We really love our jobs, so we’ll play whatever. I love to meet people, learn from them, and enjoy their enthusiasm about the lifestyle. That’s the culture of Seville and that’s really the culture of Pensacola. The show will always go on and it will get better and better.
DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 9
by dawn g
resko
HAPLE
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Explorin
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Local Legends on Frida y the 13th
Black cats 13th is n , broken mirrors the upco early upon us, so and bunny feet— m shakers o ing day of unluc it’s time to decid oh my! Friday th k. W e ho f e salt and a join with bouquet ill you stow away w you’ll take on th e o m f in o fo st courag your clos ur-leaf clo braving th e e hapless h e streets for tour ous (or foolhardy vers in tow? Or, t with ) w s is o ill y o f to f th ries? If y tales of lo ou’ve cho some of our spoo e Downtown Cro ou c a l s kiest and wd, sen the la uperstitio so you ca mo ns tte the 13th n go for an espec and settings of w r, we’ve gathered st birds flyin in the 2016 calen ially spooky tour here the events to some at your o g into windows s dar. If masked ma for May 13, the o ok place wn risk. ra n end shive rs down uders, uneven dig ly Friday your spin e, procee its, and d ahead
TROUBLEN COMES I
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of cola Little Theatre building is the old site The Pensacola Cultural Center/Pensa t notorious prisoner was Hosea Poole, the City Jail of Pensacola. The jail’s mos sacola from Spain in the early-20th who immigrated with his brother to Pen century. ing citizen working in the docks, At the northeast corner of Jefferson and Zaragoza streets While Hosea’s brother was a law-abid is the former City Courthouse, which is now the location of Light District and spent a lot Hosea was “wild and crazy” in the Red the Florida State T.T. Wentworth, Jr. Museum. sacola for thievery and other of time as a guest of the City Jail of Pen When Mr. Wentworth died in 1988, the museum misdemeanors. receptionist was sitting at her "post" (just inside the main t his lifestyle, Hosea took an After his brother confronted Hosea abou entrance and to the right of the door). She had an incident that Lizzie Borden act minus the 40 she reported to her boss, the supervisor/manager of the museum. ax and did what was described as “the le of well-aimed blows to his A black bird (be it either a crow or a raven) flew into the window whacks,” killing his brother with a coup right at the reception booth. This bird flew into it two more times, for head and body. three times total. brother’s murder and After a trial, Hosea was convicted of his The supervisor was told of the happening and he asked the sentenced to death by hanging. receptionist if the glass was broken. She told him it wasn't and she er of the jail All hangings were performed at the cent saw no damage to it, but that the bird was still standing at the entryway is now the entrance to on the concrete. It was right in front of the window it just flew into three building at an arched entryway, which lo Market and Catering. times. Pensacola Little Theatre and Portabel tings of a With no damages to report, the museum manager proceeded to tell the Theatre-goers have reported several sigh receptionist that he was glad she had called, because he had sad news: Mr. description, so man with a noosed neck fitting Hosea’s Wentworth had passed away about three hours prior to her calling. around this grim you might think twice before hanging Want to see for yourself where all the trouble happened at T.T. Wentworth Museum, gateway for too long. or the inauspicious archway at Pensacola Cultural Center? Emerald Coast Tours and the UWF Historic Trust are running tours on Friday, May 13. For more details on Historic Pensacola’s Haunted Walking Tours you may visit historicpensacola.org, or call 850-5955985 ext. 111. For more on Segway, bike and walking tours by Emerald Coast Tours, visit emeraldcoasttours.com. Or, delve into sordid and scary stories of our own haunted history with Rick Brown, a lover of Pensacola history and a seasoned tour guide at Emerald Coast Tours, any time of the year by visiting Brown’s website: pensacolathenandnow.com.
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Learn To Sail With Confidence And Have Fun Doing It!
All Summer sessions offer Beginner to Advanced- Ages 6-17 You will learn: boat rigging, boat handling, basic knots, sportsmanship, sailing fundamentals, and boat responsibility. Participants will have the opportunity to experience windsurfing, catamarans, Flying Scot, 420, Laser, and Optimist dinghy sailing, depending upon ability and desire. Sessions are weekly from June 6- August 5th.
Register on-line at: pensacolayachtclub.org/Jr-Sailing/Summer-Sailing.aspx
DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 11
Quayside Art Gallery 17 E. Zarragossa Street, Pensacola, Florida 850-438-2363 www.quaysidegallery.com
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FourTH Be With You
May The
DAY SPA
In honor of Star Wars Day, feel free to use this guide throughout each decision of your life as you channel the force and become the Jedi--or Sith--master that were always destined to be. Whether you want to catch a show or do some exercise, we’re here to usher you closer to your inner truth. By Dawn Gresko and Josh Newby.
Before thinking of yourself, choose the Jedi path and buy a gift certificate for the Padme or padawan in your life.
Light, flowy cotton is the fabric of choice for navigating the humid terrain of Dagobah. Bland is the new black!
Throw the teachings of the light side out the TIE fighter window and treat yo dark self like only a Sith Lord can.
Capes! Capes and metallic accessories! The Dark Side is strong in those who adorn themselves with these menacing styles, hot off the runway from Naboo.
GARB
Sister Hazel is coming May 21 so give your all to the light side with this sensibly acoustic brand of music.
VINYL MUSIC HALL
Make Vinyl your own personal Mos Eisley cantina with blast from the Tatooine past Blue October. Just don’t hate yourself with the song Hate Me.
Swing like Yoda and ascend into aerial yoga. Feel the force as you defy gravity and become one with your light side.
EXERCISE
Those Wahoos are having a so-so season. What they need is your Jedi mind tricks to spur them to a rebellious victory, because Shuckers are for suckers!
BLUE WAHOOS
DOWNTOWN DINING
The Blue Wahoos may be the rebel team of choice, but everyone knows the dark side is with the Biloxi Empire’s own Shuckers. Come to the dark side and be a Shuckers fan.
Mimic everyone’s favorite teen heartthrob Kylo Ren and push and pull your way to chiseled fitness via resistance training, weight lifting and some light force choking. Think of when mulleted Anakin and Padme were falling in love. A breakfast at sunrise is the key to a lasting relationship.
DATING
You know what DARK stands for? Drinks, Attitude, Risks, and Kanye.
Think of your family or the lovable Wookie waiting for a doggie bag. Eat to your satisfaction, but bring some back home to Jakku.
Volunteer to knit adorable sweaters for abandoned Ewok babies of Endor.
Embrace your inner Jabba the Hut and show the true power of the dark side by inhaling your food Darth Vader-style and testing the limits of your Mandalorian iron gut.
You know why there’s so many abandoned Ewok’s? Because you and your dark side bros cut down all their trees in your spare time.
HOBBIES
e d i u G
Official Gallery
Night
May 20
Photos: Randy Hamilton
Official Gallery Night Guide sponsored by
Cox Business provides voice, data and video services for more than 300,000 small and regional businesses, including healthcare providers, K-12 and higher education, financial institutions and federal, state and local government organizations. The organization also serves most of the top tier wireless and wireline telecommunications carriers in the U.S. through its wholesale division. According to Vertical Systems Group, Cox Business is one of the largest providers of business Ethernet services in the U.S. based on customer ports and has been consistently recognized for its leadership among small/ midsize business data service providers. Cox is currently the seventh largest voice service provider in the U.S. and supports one million phone lines. Call Cox Business today at 1-866866-2644.
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t.
PARTICIPANTS
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Reus St.
MAY 20, 2016 Beef O’ Brady’s Belle Amé
P
Palafox St.
Wright St
P
Chase St.
Blend Lounge Blue Morning Gallery
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Busy Bee Alfresco Emerald Coast Utility Authority Fosko
Indigeaux Denim Bar & Boutique Jorden Valley
MAP KEY Official Participant District
P Parking Lots/Garages
Mimi’s On the Go
The streets will remain closed until Midnight. Per city ordinance no animals and no glass bottles.
O’Riley’s Irish Pub Quayside Art Gallery Seville Quarter Stevenson Klotz, LLP
Vinyl Music Hall & 5 1/2 Bar
Coyle St.
UWF Historic Trust - Voices of Pensacola
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P
nt St.
Governme
P P
a St.
Zarragoss
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TCBY The Tin Cow
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DeVilliers S
Pita Pit
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Jefferson S
Marty Campbell
t.
ia S Intendenc
Palafox St.
Intermission
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Romana S
St. Tarragona
Hopjacks Pizza Kitchen & Taproom
Downtown Pensacola
P
Baylen St.
Fresh Fruit Infusion
Garden St.
P
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Main S
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Cedar St
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Wild Greg’s Saloon World of Beer Zarzaur Law P
Gallery Night is Sponsored by:
Brought to you by the Downtown Improvement Board
Enjoy Responsibly DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 15
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T
BRAVE NEW WORLD
BY JOSH NEWBY
wo brave and subversive exhibits recently opened at the Pensacola Museum of Art: one a pioneering new medium that completely overturns the idea of what art is and can be, the other a more traditional channel that is ripe with subtext and hidden meaning. Stephen Knapp’s Lightpaintings have taken the art world by storm by challenging preconceived notions of what constitutes a painting. These pieces are both the next evolutionary step for artistic expression and a completely new beginning. Knapp is one of a few artists in the world today who works specifically with light to project intangible, multidimensional arrangements that are simultaneously out of this world and a product of it. He is also the one who coined the term “lightpainting.” Knapp’s approach is inspiring and surreal, a journey that took him several years before he was so expertly able to manipulate the fundamental elements of our planet to create something so previously unimaginable. He discharges the light from a single source, then leads the targeted beam through some colored glass arrangements, reflects it off of others, and ultimately ends up with a kinetic relationship between form and space, color and light, illumination and glass. “There will be 14 lightpaintings in all,” said Morgan Mills, marketing manager for the museum. “This exhibit is on loan from Stephen himself, and he sent an assistant down to singlehandedly set it up exactly as it was developed by Knapp. That means he sets up the light sources, adjusts the brightness, fine-tunes the angles and does everything to Knapp’s exact specifications.” Lightpaintings have been called one of the first new art mediums of the 21st century. The symphony
of light greets patrons with alternating warm and cool glows before luring them into an art form devoid of narrative content yet entrancing nonetheless. Many will feel as though they can reach out and touch the seemingly three-dimensional piece. But they cannot, of course, because the artistry on display before them exceeds its own physical dimensions. “At once both physical objects and illusions, they remind us that dreams, hopes and aspirations are the center of art’s ability to touch the human spirit,” said Knapp about his work. As if Lightpaintings alone was not worth the price of the $7 admission, another exhibit will seduce visitors in a different way, compelling them to examine themselves, how society sees them, and how they perceive others. The Artist Revealed: Artist Portraits & Self-Portraits is an opportunity to see first-hand how many of the great painters of our time--such as Paul Cezanne, Golouard Manet and Winslow-see themselves and each other. While selfies are all the rage today, they do not very often offer anything beyond a sense of time and place. The works in this exhibit also record one’s visage for posterity, but they do so by bringing to the surface buried biases and hidden characteristics that make each of us unique individuals, in our own mind’s eye and to the larger world. While the form of the paintings is admirable and certainly reflects the artist’s skill, it is sometimes the subtext that is most intriguing and ripe with opportunities for debate and reflection. “There are 50 pieces in this exhibit, many by well-known artists you will recognize, but in a different context than you may be
accustomed to,” said Mills. “You can look at a self-portrait and ask yourself, ‘Did this artist paint him or herself the way they see themselves, or how they feel society sees them?’ And then, of course, we can consider whether their own self-reflection or society’s viewpoint was accurate or inaccurate. Did the events surrounding the painting influence it?” On the other hand, when a famous artist paints a picture of another famous artist, like Boris Artzybasheff doing C.S. Lewis or Edward Steichen and Charlie Chaplin, are they striving for identical likeness or to communicate something further? For example, when Chuck Close painted his friend Alex Katz,
he had just suffered an illness that left him a quadriplegic. This contextualizes the seemingly abstract piece in a new way and gives us insight into what Close was dealing with, as well as what Alex may have been thinking. Both of these exhibits are on view at the Pensacola Museum of Art: Lightpaintings from April 22 to Aug. 27 and The Artist Revealed from April 22 to July 16. Museum hours are Tuesday through Friday 10 am to 5 pm and Saturday from 11 am to 4 pm. The Museum is closed on Sunday and Monday. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 children 17 and under, military, and seniors. Admission is free for Museum members.
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CITY
BY KAYLA GLAZE
CAMPS
For kids, summer time is about slip and slides, pool parties, beach days, and just having fun. For working parents, however, this time of year can be a struggle to entertain the kids in a safe environment all week while still meeting their work obligations. There are many ways for parents to give kids the opportunity to create fantastic summer memories and learn a thing or two in the process. Enter Pensacola’s local summer camps, which offer a middle ground for parents and children with diverse projects that stimulate young brains and bodies with plenty of fun activities while giving the parents the time to work.
BALLET PENSACOLA
Dates: June 6-9; June 13-16; June 20-23; Aug. 1-4 Ages: 3-6 Where: Pensacola Cultural Center, 400 S. Jefferson St. Cost: $125/one-week, $325/three-week, $450/fourweek session Info: balletpensacola.com
Ballet Pensacola is offering a summer children’s program with two sessions per day with students grouped together according to age—there will be one session for three and four-year-olds, and another session for five and six-year-olds. Young performers will learn instruction in individual and group dances, character acting, as well as in crafts and mime work. There is a Beginning Session for students who have already completed one year of Pre-Ballet, as well as a Children’s Session for students just starting ballet. This year, students enrolled in the Children’s Session will learn dance in their choice of one of the following productions: The Little Mermaid, Alice in Wonderland, Angelina Ballerina, and Anna and Elsa.
CREATISPHERE
Dates: June 20-14; June 27- July 1 Ages: 8-14 Where: First City Arts Center, 1060 N. Guillemard St. Cost: $225/nonmember session, $200/member session Info: firstcityart.org
Children will learn about pottery, sculpture, photography, glassblowing, STEM projects, bookmaking, 3-D mixed media, painting, printmaking, and drawing, as well as other creative outlets. Creatisphere is open to students of all skill levels and encourages children to make art that’s “out of the box” in order to promote creative development, critical thinking and innovation. To showcase what the children have learned, Creatisphere will end with an art party and student art show, which parents and friends are invited to attend.
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PENSACOLA MUSEUM OF ART
Dates: May 31-August 5 Ages: 6-9 (Mini Masters), 10-13 (Junior Artists) Where: Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. Cost: $200/member session, $250/nonmember session Info: pensacolamuseum.org
Pensacola Museum of Art is offering up to ten weeks of creative fun in its annual Summer Art Camp in which students are shown a variety of mediums with which to create unique works of art. Some of the camp themes include Animal Adaptations, Ocean Commotion, Meet the Masters, 20,000 Leagues, The World of Dreams, Sea Monster Mania, Scultpurepalooza, eARTh Art Adventures, Emerald Coast Explorers, and Blast Through the Past.
PENSACOLA LITTLE THEATRE
Dates: June 6-10; June 13-24; June 27July 8; July 11-29 Ages: 6-15 Where: Pensacola Cultural Center, 400 S. Jefferson St. Cost: Varies by session from $155 to $525 Info: pensacolalittletheatre.com/ education/acting-classes
Students will learn the fundamentals of puppetry, and how to use their voice and body movements to create a character. Young actors will also learn how to design props, sets and costumes, as well as other backstage duties, and how to perform singing and dancing numbers. Students learn through hands-on experiences in a non-competitive atmosphere, the primary purpose of which is to help our local youths by providing the opportunity to develop, practice and hone the skills needed in all aspects of the theatre arts and theatrical production.
PENSACOLA OPERA
Dates: July 11-15 for Youth Camp; July 25-29 for Teen Camp Ages: 8-17 Where: Pensacola Opera, 75 S. Tarragona St. Cost: $150 for ages 8-12, $175 for ages 13-16 Info: pensacolaopera.com/camps
Each year Pensacola Opera holds summer Opera Camps in which sessions focus on vocal and dramatic coaching, audition techniques, as well as set and costume design. At the end of each session, campers will star in a final performance for parents and friends. Campers are asked to bring a lunch each day. Snacks and drinks will be provided.
SOUTHEASTERN TEEN SHAKESPEARE COMPANY Dates: TBA Ages: 9-17 Where: 1010 N 12th Ave. Cost: $235 Info: setsco.org
It’s a mystery of Shakespearean proportions as this year’s campers create a whodunit from the ground up using Shakespearean characters, plots, intrigue, dialogue, and combat. Each camper will get to choose a Shakespearean character to play, agree on a Shakespearean murder victim, and help write and perform an original play using Shakespearean themes. Campers will learn about the plays, acting, and stage combat in this weeklong experience that culminates in a live performance! SETSCO will provide everything except underwear, shoes, and lunch.
EPISCOPAL DAY SCHOOL MESS HALL
Dates: May 31-June 3, June 6-10, June 13-17, June 20-24, June 27July 1, July 6-8, July 11-15, July 18-22, July 25-29, August 1-5 Ages: 6-14 Where: Pensacola MESS Hall, 116 N. Tarragona St. Cost: $100/member session, $125/nonmember session Info: pensacolamesshall.org
This summer, the camps offered at Pensacola MESS Hall focus on building math, engineering and science skills, and students are organized according to grade levels. Themes at MESS Hall include Tinker - Explore - Create Studio, Inventor’s Workshop, Code Academy, MESSlandia, Light it up!, Rockin’ Out, Discover Architecture, Nature Ramble, Space Explorers, Robot,Set,Code. Students will learn about the basic elements of architecture, anatomy, DNA, sailing and Lego robotics, as well as space, earth and ocean sciences.
Dates: June 6 – July 22 Ages: 4-12 Where: The Hilton-Green Campus, 601 N. Palafox St. Cost: $195/one-week session; $125/half-day one week session Info: edssc.org
Episcopal Day School is planning for eight weeks of summer fun with its annual summer camp session, stretching Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4 pm. For rising PreK3 through Kindergarten students,all camps will have a STEaM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) emphasis and themes will include space, oceans, fairy tales, gardens, cooking and robots. Rising 1st through 8th graders will have options that vary each week, and many camps will have a STEaM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) emphasis. Choices will include TV broadcasting, ceramics, wearable technology, and much more. Morning and after care is provided from 7 am to 8:30 am and from 4 pm to 5:30 pm. The morning and after care is complimentary with registration.
PENSACOLA COOKS Dates: June 1317; June 20-24; June 27- July 1; July 11-15; July 18-22; July 25-29; August 1-5 Ages: 5-14 Where: 3660 Barrancas Ave. Cost: $175/oneweek session Info: info@ pensacolacooks. com
This year, the weekly themes range from Baking Basics, Baking Bootcamp, Taste of TV, Olympic Tribute to Global Foods, Foodie Movie Fun. Students will get to create dishes from cooking shows and learn to create dishes from countries that are participating in the 2016 Summer Olympics.
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Mom’s Pride and Joy
Adopt -AManatee® this Mother’s Day Call 1-800-432-5646 (JOIN) savethemanatee.org Photo © Wayne Hartley
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In which we unfairly judge upcoming attractions based solely on their trailers. By Josh Newby
CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR RELEASE DATE: May 6 CAST: Chris Evans, Robert Downey, Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan MONEY MONSTER RELEASE DATE: May 13 CAST: Julia Roberts, George Clooney, Giancarlo Esposito, Jack O’Connell What I got from the preview: The trailer starts out with Roberts’ character ordering an evacuation of a television station’s employees after a gunman has taken the show’s host (played by Clooney) hostage with a bomb-strapped vest. We soon learn that there is far more to this story, as the gunman was an investor who followed Clooney’s advice and lost everything and whose violent actions are being broadcast live from the studio for millions to see. Some sort of conspiracy involving global markets and high-frequency trading follows the tense standoff as (trailer spoiler) the hostage and hostage-taker become unlikely allies. Most notable for: It’s not often during the summer that old-school movie stars are given charge of an original property. Let’s support more films like this. Unqualified critical observation: A product of the Occupy movement by director Jodie Foster, the trailer gave me chills and found a happy medium between summer thriller and thoughtful societal commentary.
THE NICE GUYS RELEASE DATE: May 20 CAST: Ryan Gosling, Russell Crowe, Matt Bomer, Kim Basinger What I got from the preview: Crowe knocks at Gosling’s door and proceeds to break his legs. If that’s not a great start to a trailer, I don’t know what is. Unfortunately, it quickly devolves from there in this 70s-style send-up of a buddy cop movie in which the two must investigate the apparent suicide of a porn star. Hijinks ensue as their incompetence somehow reveals the larger mystery in a half-hearted attempt at comedy. Maybe this would be entertaining if we hadn’t seen the same movie countless times before. Most notable for: Gosling and Crowe are among the most likeable actors on the planet, and their drunk bit from the Oscars hints at their obvious chemistry. Unfortunately, that’s where the movie’s positive aspects end. Unqualified critical observation: You’ll forgive me if the superimposition (from the director of Iron Man 3) doesn’t exactly instill me with confidence. If the same material were handled by a more assured director, it might work in a winking, Boogie Nights-type way. As it is now, the movie seems preoccupied with insisting on its own cleverness and in the process derides any charm it may have otherwise earned.
What I got from the preview: After the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron and realizing they miiiiight just be liable for about a gajillion dollars worth of damage and thousands of lives being lost, the assembled Avengers split into two factions: one led by Iron Man who believes that their interference in international affairs should be scaled back significantly, and Captain America, who, much like America itself, wants to continue “keeping the world safe.” The rift creates a civil war which inevitably will cause even more collateral damage and cost more lives. Most notable for: Between the cast’s breadth and the immediate continuation
Fi l m
of the Age of Ultron story, this movie could almost be Avengers 2.5. Standalone Marvel movies are usually largely forgettable, but this one promises to be anything but. Unqualified critical observation: Finally, these characters are growing up and realizing the consequences of their actions, no matter how unsavory it may be. And while fighting each other in spandex may not be the most adult approach to remedy conflict, this film looks to finally balance the childlike fantasy of its characters with the mature, real-world repercussions of their decisions. This may be the best Marvel movie yet.
NEIGHBORS 2: SORORITY RISING RELEASE DATE: May 20 CAST: Zac Efron, Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne, Chloe Grace Moretz, Ike Barinholtz What I got from the preview: In the sequel to the surprisingly great 2014 movie, Mac (Rogen) and Kelly (Byrne) attempt to sell their house when a sorority moves in next door. Quickly realizing that no one will want to undertake a 30-year mortgage on a property located right next to the debaucherous bunch, the two enlist the help of former frat bro Teddy (Efron) and his band of goons to excommunicate the next-door sisters. Most notable for: See, these are the kinds of movies to which I actually want a followup. The original can stand on its own as a laugh-out-loud classic, but the characters are endearing and enduring enough to warrant another adventure. Good on Hollywood for green-lighting a sensible sequel. Unqualified critical observation: Rogen and Efron have startling chemistry, and Grace Moretz is playing against type as a pot-smoking bad girl. The rest of the cast is filled in with terrific character actors and emerging presences in the comedy world. I’m excited for the late-night laugh fest this movie promises to be.
ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS RELEASE DATE: May 27 CAST: Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Alan Rickman, Mia Wasikowska What I got from the preview: Did anyone actually like the 2010 prequel to this movie? It was stylized color vomit masquerading as a whimsical, star-studded approach to Lewis Carroll’s nonsensical cocktail of fantasy elements to which much deeper meaning has been ascribed. The follow-up continues in that creepy tradition, with Depp as the Mad Hatter who serves as our quirky guide and Wasikowska as our audience proxy. In this iteration, we must travel back in time with the residents of Wonderland to save the Mad Hatter. Personally, I wouldn’t bother. Most notable for: I assume the sprawling cast is drawn to the idea of dark fantasy and an easy couple-millions, and while I applaud them for attempting to tackle the difficult source material, I can’t help but think it’s more style than substance. Also, this is one of the great Rickman’s last films. Pity. Unqualified critical observation: Depp is a lot like Adam Sandler in that he plays characters who are stuck in prolonged adolescence with a dialed-to-11 fervency that no longer seems authentic. In that way, he is an analog for this franchise that purports to be about more than it is, when at the end of the day it’s just a CGI-laden cash grab, the victims of which are families seeking quality entertainment and the Hot Topic crowd, looking for an artful rendition of their supposed misunderstood feelings. DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 21
Word o n t h e S t r e e t Pensacola Children’s Chorus Auditions 20162017 May 14
Bodacious Family of Shops Announces New Additions
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Calling all Pensacola youth: are you ready to sing your heart out? Pensacola Children’s Chorus auditions return on May 14 at the Margaret Moore Nickelsen Center (46 E. Chase St.). For the 2016-2017 season, artistic director Alex Gartner will audition rising fourth through 12th graders, assessing the vocal range and tone quality of each student. Additionally, high school students will be required to work with a choreographer during auditions to assess their movement abilities. Please call the Chorus office at 850-434-7760 to make an appointment for your audition, or visit pensacolachildrenschorus.com for more details on the Chorus’ 27th season. A Bodacious Family of Shops is pleased to announce the additions of President Jonathan Griffith, CFO Amber McClure, Manager Rose Cantu and Finance Manager Heather Doerr as the shops continue to grow in Downtown Pensacola. Jonathan Griffith, President of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, now serves as the President of Studer Entertainment and Retail. Amber McClure now serves as the Chief Financial Officer for the Studer Entertainment and Retail including the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and The Bodacious Family of Shops. Rose Cantu joined the team in March as the Manager for The Bodacious Family of Shops. Heather Doerr joined the Bodacious Family of Shops in April as the Finance Manager after serving as trainee in the Accounting department with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
Dow n t o w n I m p r o v e ment Board
Pensacola’s small businesses have big impact By Ron Butlin Downtown Pensacola is booming. While many cities continue to struggle, we are blessed with a robust community of established small business owners, as well as an up-and-coming cadre of young entrepreneurs who are pushing our city to new heights. National Small Business Week, May 1-7, is the time to celebrate these people, our neighbors, who have invested time, sweat and hard-earned capital to build something of their own. Small business, it turns out, is no trifling matter at all. In 2012, more than two-fifths of Florida’s private workers were employed by firms with 500 or fewer employees. These same companies accounted for nearly 99 percent of all businesses in the state, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. These companies, though small, form the backbone of our economy, accounting for 63 percent of net new jobs, 48.5 percent of private-sector employment and 42 percent of private-sector payroll nationwide from 1993 to 2013. But who, exactly, are these small business owners? They’re a varied group — from Patrick Elebash, a fourth-generation jeweler whose eponymous shop is now in its 97th year, to Katie Rosier, whose Indigeaux Boutique celebrated its fifth anniversary on Palafox Street in November, to the next generation of entrepreneurs, who will build a new economy from their laptops, coffee shops and co-working spaces. What all these people share in common is a commitment — emotional and financial — to our shared home. Study after study has found that local businesses return more to a community’s economy than big-box retailers. In 2012, researchers found that local retailers in Salt Lake City returned 52 percent of their revenue to the local economy, compared to just 14 percent for national, chain retailers. Numbers like that have real impact. In Downtown Pensacola, local retailers have shown an even greater commitment than their peers in other parts of the country, electing to pay an extra tax in order to make downtown a more attractive place to live, work and play. As director of the Downtown Improvement Board, it is my job to help ensure that this money is put to the very wisest use. I hope you’ll join me this month in supporting our local business owners, whose hard work has been so integral in making downtown such a vibrant place over the last few years. I know we’re just getting started, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds.
Date l i n e D o w n t o w n
Slide the City May 21 Palafox Street will be transformed into the biggest block party of the summer when Slide the City arrives on May 21. Families and friends alike can slip and splash down the giant waterslide while onlookers enjoy the surrounding block party. Event organizers expect this year to be their best yet. Last year almost 2,000 adventure-seekers sped through Pensacola and event organizers expect even more participation this year. From 9 am families, friends and neighbors are invited to take a break from the heat, speeding through three city blocks on inner tubes. Along with the one-of-a-kind slide, the block party will include food, music, local vendors and street entertainers. Pricing starts at $15. Online registration is now open at slidethecity.com/ location/pensacola. East Hill Tour of Homes May 7 Explore a side of East Hill you might not have seen before with East Hill Tour of Homes on Saturday, May 7, from 10 am to 2 pm. In addition to the McIlwain Home, the tour includes five wonderful homes ranging from 1914 to 2015. Tickets are $15 per person and $25 per couple (with a $5 discount for East Hill Neighborhood Association members). Tickets are purchasable at 1200 E. Blount St. (McIlwain Home), and all proceeds go toward making improvements to East Hill Neighborhood. For more information, visit myeasthill.org. Mother’s Day Brunch at a Great Southern Restaurant May 8 Mother’s Day is just around the corner, so what better way to treat Mom than to take her out to a Sunday brunch at a Great Southern Restaurant? Jackson’s is serving brunch from 10:30 am to 3 pm, and you can expect entrees like eggs benedict with an English muffin, smoked ham, soft poached eggs and hollandaise, accompanied by bottomless Piper Sonoma champagne for $10 (or complimentary for moms). Brunch at The Fish House will run from 11 am to 3 pm with menu 24 | DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM
items like seared salmon served on toasted pumpernickel bagels with grilled tomatoes, housepickled red onions and two poached eggs finished with a rich avocado béarnaise, which you can wash down with either $5 bottomless champagne and mimosas or $2 bloody marys. Visit fishhousepensacola.com, or jacksonsrestaurant. com, for more details. Second Annual Baller’s Ball May 13 Pensacola’s all-women krewes, The Mystic Mafia and The Daisy Dukes, are proud to announce their second annual Baller’s Ball to be held on May 13 at 8 pm in the beautiful event space of New World Landing (600 S. Palafox St.). The two krewes have created a community-wide gala celebrating the city’s heritage for a once a year, over-the-top experience unlike any other. Dress to impress, or put on attire that supports your krewee’s theme, and get ready for live entertainment, high end casino-style gaming with professional dealers, and top-shelf beverage choices. For more information, email April Davison at aprilddavidson@me.com, or follow Pensacola Baller’s Ball on Facebook.
Fiesta Family Weekend May 14-15 Fiesta Family Weekend is a time-honored tradition that gives children the chance to learn about Pensacola’s rich history in a fun and engaging way, such as through the Fiesta Children’s Treasure Hunt returning this year on Saturday, May 14. This free event will be held during the weekend of May 14 through 15 at Bayview Park in East Hill, where there will be two full days of treasure hunting, toys, games and beach adventures for kids and families. Learn more at fiestaofffiveflags.org. Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day May 14-15 How many invasive lionfish can we remove in one weekend? Find out at the 2016 Lionfish Removal & Awareness Festival and Tournament at Plaza de Luna (900 S. Palafox) from May 14 to 15 from 10 am to 5 pm. This free event will have lionfish tastings and fillet demonstrations by celebrity chefs, as well as family activities, raffles and prizes. There will also be conservation vendors from Sea Grant Florida, Edible Invaders, Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida, and more. Learn how to donate to the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida, or find out more about the upcoming event, by checking out reefrangers.com.
Dateline Downtown Murder Mystery at the Museum May 14 Is Clue still your favorite board game? Then you won’t want to miss your chance to play the game live at Pensacola Museum of Art’s Murder Mystery at the Museum Bash starting at 6 pm on Saturday, May 14. Guests are invited to experience the museum like never before: as suspects in a murder mystery. Guests will portray a specific alias during the night, as well as share and gather telling clues that outline their involvement, or lack there of, in the deadly crime committed inside the museum. Attendees will receive details about their character after registering, so they have enough time to familiarize with their role and pair it with the perfect costume. While uncovering the mystery, feel free to wine and dine as food and drink (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) are included with each ticket. Tickets are $60 per person. Get yours now by visiting pensacolamuseum.org. Seventh Annual Beauty by the Bay May 15 Join The King Richard Foundation on Sunday, May 15 for the seventh annual Beauty by the Bay fashion show and dinner benefitting the “Send a Kid to Camp” program for children with Autism and other developmental disabilities. The show begins at 3 pm inside the Sanders Beach-Corrine Jones Center, featuring the ladies of AKA, Delta, Zeta and Sigma Gamma Rho and the men of Alpha, Kappa, Sigma and Omega. Tickets are $35 per person and may be purchased at It’s Personal by Sheila (2610 W. Cervantes St.) and Me & Mom’s Hair Care (2428 N. 12th Ave.). For more information, call Ann Richard at 850-944-9408, or email king100490@aol.com. Cooking Demonstrations with Chef Irv Miller: 100-Mile Cooking May 18 Save the date for Chef Irv’s 100-Mile Cooking demonstration on May 18, which will celebrate and promote the abundance of ingredients from nearby farms, local food markets, and the foodproducing community of Northwest Florida and lower Alabama. The 100-Mile Meal is a way of eating, thinking, and cooking; it is Chef Irv’s and Jackson’s way of supporting local farms and,
overall, the local economy. Chef Irv will select ingredients from local growers for each course, so you can savor the flavors of our region. The cost is $45 per person. Reservations are required and may be made by calling 850-469-9898, or visiting jacksonsrestaurant.com. Blue Angels Practice Soar away with the Blue Angels during their practice performances every Tuesday and Wednesday at the National Naval Aviation Museum for May 10-11, May 17-18, and May 31. Make sure to grab your concessions before practice begins at 11:30 am. Then sit back, relax, and watch as the Angels maneuver into formation and jet out creative contrail-cloud shapes left in their wake. Find out more about upcoming practices and shows by going to blueangels.navy. mil. Take Me Out to the Ball Game We’re well into baseball season and there’s plenty of Blue Wahoos home games to look forward to for the month of May. If Mom likes baseball, or she just enjoys watching the uniformed players dive for first base, don’t forget to invite her out for some peanuts and Cracker Jacks this Mother’s Day (on May 8, when the Wahoos will be taking on the Biloxi Shuckers). Questions? Contact info@bluewahoos.com. Otherwise, get your tickets now by either calling 850-934-8444 or emailing tickets@bluewahoos.com. May 4-8: v. Biloxi Shuckers May 14-18: v. Mississippi Braves May 25-29: v. Birmingham Barons
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. May 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25, 31: Mike Quinn May 6 & 7: Banana Republic May 12, 13, 14: Cover the Earth May 13 & 14: Bad Habits May 13 & 14: The Modern Eldorados May 19: Jordan Richards Band May 20 & 21: A Flock of Sea Monkeys May 20 & 21: The Red Field
The Fish House Deck Bar Weekly Music Schedule Sunday: Regional acts at 8 pm. Monday: Open at 4 pm. Tuesday: Lucas Crutchfield from 6 to 10 pm Wednesday: Lucas Crutchfield 5 to 9 pm; at 9 pm a regional band will play until midnight. Regional bands are changed weekly Thursday: Lucas Crutchfield 6 to 10 pm Friday: Lucas Crutchfield 5 to 9 pm; regional band begins at 9 pm Saturday: Regional bands begin at 9 pm
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Ar t · M u s i c · T h e a t re
Showtime at Saenger Theatre May 6 Pensacola Children’s Chorus will present its 26th annual production of Showtime in the historic Pensacola Saenger Theatre from May 6 to 8. Showtime features the six choirs of the Pensacola Children’s Chorus with over 200 members performing a variety of music, as well as showcasing spectacular costumes, dynamic choreography and impressive staging. Reservations are required and seats range $25 to $41. Get your tickets now by visiting pensacolasaenger.com.
Pensacola Bay Center presents Def Leppard and Styx May 2 Def Leppard have announced they will return to the road this summer for an extensive tour across North America due to overwhelming demand. The tour will storm through 55 cities across all parts of the U.S. and Canada. It is set to kick off on May 2nd at Pensacola Bay Center in Pensacola and wrap on October 10th in Cedar Rapids, IA. Joining Def Leppard in Pensacola is Styx. Tickets for the Pensacola show go on sale Friday, March 18 at 10 am at The Rodizio Grill Box Office, online at Ticketmaster.com or charge by phone 800.745.3000.
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Ar t · Music · Theatre Vinyl Music Hall Every month, Vinyl Music Hall hosts a wide variety of acts, events, performances and more that draw a diverse crowd to Downtown Pensacola’s go-to venue. This month is no exception, so don’t miss out on any one of the upcoming shows. Get your tickets now, or find out more on May’s calendar of events, by visiting vinylmusichall.com. May 4: Blue October May 6: Strangelove – The Ultimate Tribute to Depeche Mode May 14: Bad Girls Burlesque May 20: Rumours – A Fleetwood Mac Tribute May 21: Sister Hazel May 31: Buckethead
Saenger Theatre presents Beauty and the Beast May 14 & 15 The Gulf Breeze High School drama program is proud to present the infamous Beauty and the Beast. This “tale as old as time” is filled with spectacular costumes and sets. It is family theatre at its best and will bring the entire community together as the company shares in a story of love and acceptance teaching all that beauty is found within. Beauty and the Beast premieres Saturday, May 14 at 7:30 pm at the Saenger Theatre. A second matinee performance is set for Sunday, May 15 at 2:30 pm. Tickets are between $10, $25 and $38 VIP (VIP ticketholders may meet Belle and other cast members before the show, 6 to 7 Saturday and 1 to 2 Sunday. Tickets available, April 15 at the Saenger Box Office 595.3880 or ticketmaster.com. Be our guest and bring the whole family to experience the irresistibly enchanting story, unforgettable songs, toe-tapping dance numbers and astonishing stagecraft. PLT Presents I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change May 19-21 We’re all familiar with the contemporary fairy tale known as “the relationship,” but Pensacola Little Theatre is taking the celebration of the mating game to another level with I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. Travel with the theatre troupe as they follow the long and winding road from dating and waiting for love and marriage to
the agonies and triumphs of in-laws and newborns, as well as trips in the family car and the pick-up techniques of the geriatric set. Leave the kiddos at home, because this show is intended for mature audiences only (due to strong language and adult situations). The show will be performed on May 13 to 15 and May 19 to 21 beginning at 7:30 pm, except on Sunday when it starts at 2:30 pm. Tickets range $10 to $17. Learn more about the upcoming production, or purchase your tickets now, by visiting pensacolalittletheatre.com. Bands on the Beach Sink your chairs and toes into the sugary-white sands of Pensacola Beach while you get ready to enjoy our area’s free concert series every Tuesday night from 7 to 9 pm at the Gulfside Pavilion on Casino Beach. This month includes a performance by Northwest Florida’s only Beatles Tribute Band: Not Quite Fab. Pets and glass must stay at home. For more information, call the SRIA at 850-9322257, check out visitpensacolabeach.com, or tune in to Cat County 98.7 to hear the latest updates. May 10: True Blue Band May 17: Mr. Big & The Rhythm Sisters May 24: Southern Breeze May 31: Not Quite Fab
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