modern Eclectic
Innovation meets functionality: the 1950s-inspired home of George + Liz Biggs
OCTOBER 2016 • PENSACOLAMAGAZINE.COM
CAC1813818
CFC1427496
EC13002463
AL 15003
AIR CONDITIONING EXPERTS FAMILIES COUNT ON, SINCE 1969.
ACROSS 5. water outfit 8. cross-country trip 10. someone with a green thumb 12. exposure to the sun 14. atmospheric moisture 15. beach monument made by children 16. beverage glove DOWN 1. summer pest 2. 212°F reaction 3. opposite of cold 4. having national pride 6. American pastime 7. shoeless 9. frozen snack 11. sandy shore 13. eating outside
2 | pensacola magazine
pensacola magazine | 3
4 | pensacola magazine
pensacola magazine | 5
Editor’s Note my two cents on the subject Kelly Oden Executive Editor I know the first day of fall officially falls on September 22, but as I write this more than a week later, I feel the true beginnings of cool weather. Waking up to 60 degrees this morning was nothing short of liberating. For me, the summer heat becomes unbearable, even oppressive in August and September, so I am thrilled to re-enter the great outdoors and find some non-air conditioned adventures. This month we are featuring one of the coolest homes I’ve seen in all my years of creating Home and Garden editions of Pensacola Magazine. The multi-level 1950s home is gorgeous, unique, functional and incredibly interesting. The physical home is enhanced by the lovely people who brought it back to life and proudly call it home. George and Liz Biggs, along with their four children, couldn’t imagine living anywhere else and after you read about their home in our Modern Eclectic spread, you’ll surely understand why. October marks the beginning of many fall festivals and traditions. From corn mazes and haunted houses to First City Art Center’s Glass Pumpkin Patch and the Pensacola Interstate Fair, check out all of the ways you can fall into fun on page 17.
As much as fall is for getting outside and enjoying the brisk weather, it’s also all about snuggling up on the sofa and binge watching the new fall seasons of your favorite shows. Whether your faves are on network, cable or streaming platforms, Josh Newby has put together his list of must see fall TV. As for me, I’m looking forward to revisiting the folks on Transparent and Shameless as well as checking out the new Westworld on HBO. Happy binging! All this plus, a Q&A with NWFL poet Laureate, Jamey Jones, info on the North Hill Tour of Homes, all the details on the upcoming Voodoo Music + Arts Experience in New Orleans and so much more. Take this copy of Pensacola Magazine, find a nice outdoor spot and plan your own fall adventures! See you out there!
Lola Oden and friends at her annual Halloween party in 2015
6 | pensacola magazine
pensacola magazine | 7
contents OCTOBER 2016 Page 10 with 10 deedee davis pensacola scene 12 fall into fun 17
52
jamey Jones, 23 NWFL’s Poet Laureate Dabble in voodoo: 27 Voodoo Music + Arts Experience
45
Discover North Hill Living 31 SAVOR THE SEASON 35
49
TV Time: 39 Fall Tv Line up An Advocate for Change 45
39
Modern Eclectic 52 PLAY • LIVE • GIVE 62
COVER PHOTO BY STEPHEN MOODY, DUNN MEDIA 8 | pensacola magazine
27
17
MAGAZINE
OCTOBER 2016 Owners
Malcolm & Glenys Ballinger
Publisher
Malcolm Ballinger malcolm@ballingerpublishing.com
Executive Editor
Kelly Oden kelly@ballingerpublishing.com
Art Director
Guy Stevens guy@ballingerpublishing.com
Graphic Designer/Ad Coordinator Anna Hitchcock anna@ballingerpublishing.com
Editor
Josh Newby josh@ballingerpublishing.com
Assistant Editor
Dawn Gresko dawn@ballingerpublishing.com
Editorial Intern
Malorie Eagles malorie@ballingerpublishing.com
Sales & Marketing Paula Rode, Account Executive ext. 28 paula@ballingerpublishing.com Geneva Strange, Account Executive ext. 21 geneva@ballingerpublishing.com
314 N. Spring St. | Pensacola, FL 32501 850.433.1166 | fax: 850.435.9174 ballingerpublishing.com Published by Ballinger Publishing:
magazine
Member of:
NW Florida’s Business Climate Magazine and Pensacola Magazine is locally owned and operated. All Rights 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. Š 2016
pensacola magazine | 9
Page10 with DeeDee Davis
I
love October. Temperatures begin to cool, football season is in full swing, delicious stews simmer on the stove and autumn fashions appear. This is a far cry from my original reason for loving October. Like any other normal kid, I dreamed of Halloween. Call it what you will now, but it will always be Halloween to me. Moms now are so imaginative with costumes, but half the fun of the holiday for me and my four younger brothers and sisters was picking out our store bought, off-the-rack cover-up with mask. I can still smell the plastic. One of us inevitably popped the thin rubber string off our mask prior to the big day due to mass tryings on, and Mom had to staple on some elastic less anyone recognize us on our evening of masquerade. She usually had to poke an extra hole in it so that our pint sized eyes could match up to see the houses where we would run to for the coveted candy. Our real creativity, however, was exercised in the preparation of the booty bag. We spent days decorating our grocery store brown bags. We drew, painted, taped, glued and glittered, you name it, on those bags. True masterpieces. No prefab plastic or pumpkin heads. Alas, one year we darted and sprinted all over the neighborhood, greedily trying to fill our bags with treats and were so consumed with the collection that none of us realized the
Dr. Ken Ford + Bobby Likis 10 | pensacola magazine
dew from the grass had done a number on our paper bags. Yes, we had bottomless and empty bags and nothing to show for our evening of work. Mom tried to make it all better by offering us apples and I am sure you can picture the look on five small faces. Are you kidding? When has an apple ever been a substitute for Three Musketeers and Butterfingers? Needless to say, by the time my own children were old enough to trickor-treat, I had decided that plastic pumpkin heads were quite charming. There were plenty of costumed contestants who participated in the annual Scrabble Soiree: Letters for Literacy fundraiser held at Sanders Beach Corrine-Jones Community Center. Executive Director Manette Magera passionately works on the unique event to support Learn to Read of Northwest Florida. This is an all-volunteer organization that offers free one-on-one tutoring to adults who have never learned to read. Several hundred people came together to play Scrabble and bribe judges for special favors and forgiveness. It’s pretty serious stuff when you cheat at Scrabble, and only a judge can pardon the crime. Sue Straughn and Rep. Clay Ingram were among the robed judges who gladly accepted bribe money (just saying) for the cause. Allen Strum, WEAR TV Chief Meteorologist, did an excellent job as master
John + Marianne McMahon
Charlene Sanders + Steve Gracik
of ceremonies overseeing the wordsmiths. Congratulations to Leo and Cathy Cyr who were just married and celebrated with friends in the French Room at New World Landing. Guests who shared the special occasion included Ray and Valerie Russenberger; Matt and Lisa Durney; Chuck and Penny Emling; Roger and Raisa Webb; and Dr. Mark and Lisa Greskovich. The Pensacola Museum of Art held its annual popular fundraiser Suite Soiree to yet another sell-out crowd. The glitzy evening begins downstairs in the Lewis Bear Family Galleries with cocktails and appetizers before reconvening upstairs in the Kugelman Family and Thornton galleries for dinner and an auction. David Penniman of Classic City Catering and Ian Kaple of the Wine Bar on Palafox coordinated the menu and wines. Chefs Dan Dunn (H20), MariCarmen Josephs (Carmen’s Lunch Bar), James Collins (So Chopped), Irv Miller (Jackson’s Steakhouse), and Chris Pichotta (V Paul’s) all contributed a course and while they were all great, a shout out to MariCarmen for the most delicious mushroom, cauliflower and manchego soup I’ve ever tasted. Guests included Dr. Will and Michelle Henghold; Steve Gracik and Charlene Sanders; Jim and Ann Neal; Larry and Dianne Robbins; Chuck Presti and Mike Bruce; Mike
Jim + Ann Neal
Will + Jane Merrill
and Mary Jane Bass; John and Maryann McMahon; Allen and Ann Litvak; and Will and Jane Merrill. The election can’t happen fast enough. Both sides have a strong presence in this area and both camps are working hard. Mr. Trump filled the Bay Center and Mrs. Clinton’s team packed the Ned and Megan McWilliams home with Florida Democratic Chair Allison Tant on tour for her candidate. One month and counting! A huge congratulations to Dr. Ken Ford, Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC), for the grand opening celebration of his magnificent building on Alcaniz Street. Quina-Grundhoefer Architects are responsible for the design of Pensacola’s latest commercial buildings. Many groups, organizations and individuals were a part of the process that made the facility a reality, including the generosity of Fred Levin, whose name is on the building. Fred has always been a supporter of the artificial intelligence work done there, but he also donated significantly to build the center and expand the work done at IHMC. An all-star list of guests turned out for the dedication including Sen. Doug Broxson; Mayor Ashton Hayward; County Commissioners Grover Robinson and Doug Underhill; and Escambia Clerk of Court Pam Childers. More congratulations are in order as Dr. Martha Saunders has been named incoming President of the University of West Florida. She will be the sixth to hold this position and will take over for Dr. Judy Bense on Jan. 1, 2017.
October Birthdays 4 Eric Milstead 12 Teresa Gilroy 25 LeeAnne Skewes
Sue Straughn, DeeDee Davis + Clay Ingram pensacola magazine | 11
pensacolascene who/what/when/where
Gallery night September 16 Downtown Pensacola
Jim Roberts
Allan Hopkins, Royce Gracie, Troy Baker + Chad Chilcatt
Maria Gaby + Diana 12 | pensacola magazine
Willie + Shuntay Carter
Brett Fleming, Kim Owens + Renee Jones
Malcolm Ballinger, Shannon + Mike Heller
pensacolascene who/what/when/where
Suite Soiree September 15 Pensacola Museum of Art
Melissa, Rafael + Leonidas
Lucy + Bruce Vredenburg
Shelly Nutt + Lacie Cartner
Dave + Mary Hoexing
Jeff Nall + Raven Holloway
Luis Munoz
Barry + Laura Cole
Roger + Ellen Vinson pensacola magazine | 13
pensacolascene who/what/when/where
IHMC expansion ribbon cutting September 26
Local Officials and IHMC Leaders cut ribbon for the Levin Center for IHMC Research
Galvez Statue unveiling Local sculptor Capt. Robert Rasmussen unveils the clay form statue of Galvez prior to its bronzing The Galvez Statue
Capt. Robert Rasmussen, Maria Davis +Nancy Fetterman 14 | pensacola magazine
Brian Spencer, Maria Davis + Mayor Ashton Hayward
UWF Historic Trust Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the New Commanding Officer’s Compound Exhibit
pensacola magazine | 15
Now Building Huntington Creek Just West of the Equestrian Center
Free Design Service Build on our lot or yours! Parade Winner 2013, 2014, 2015 Builder of Dream Home 2015 Builder Of The Year 2015
Come visit our furnished model homes M-Sat 11 to 5pm, Sun 1 to 5pm
T: (850) 944-6805 • E: chopllc@yahoo.com • classichomesofpensacola.com
16 | pensacola magazine
Fallinto fun Brush the sand off your clothes and tuck away your flip flops because fall is here! It’s time to celebrate the harvest and All Hallows’ Eve and there is no better place to do so than at one of the many fall festivals and Halloween haunts our community has to offer. Spice up your routine by getting lost in a corn maze at Sweet Season Farms, harvesting a work of art at the Glass Pumpkin Patch, or taking a guided spooky stroll with Historic Pensacola. From familyfriendly to educational and ghostly, there is truly something for everyone to enjoy. Grab your scarf and a pumpkin spice latte and head out to enjoy one (or all!) of these fun-filled fall events. Written by Malorie Eagles pensacola magazine | 17
FALL INTO FUN Sweet Season Farms Eighth Annual Corn Maze and Fall Fun Festival Sept. 24 – Nov. 6 Come and be amazed by this year’s Peanuts-themed maze design at Sweet Season Farms’ Eighth Annual Corn Maze and Fall Fun Festival. Wind through the eight acres of this interactive maze, or wander through the Kiddie maze. The fun has no dead-end—at the end of the yellow corn road, a pumpkin patch, fun farm games, hayrides, and pony rides await. On Saturday, Oct. 29, candy will be given out all day during Trick-or-Treat in the Maze. Guests are encouraged to wear costumes and join Maizey Corn in a parade around the farm. Visit the Sweet Season Farms website at sweetseasonfarms.com for more event information and to purchase tickets.
photo by Julia White
13th Annual Beaches to Woodlands Tour
Holland Farms Pumpkin Patch and Maze
Hillcrest Farm’s Fifth Annual Corn Maze
Sept. 9 – Nov. 11 Relax, unwind, and explore this fall during this self-guided tour sponsored by the Santa Rosa County Tourism Development Organization. Enjoy live music, local art, and beer tasting. Zip over to Adventures Unlimited for the Fall Foliage Zip Line Tour. Experience the rustic charm of local farmer’s markets, corn mazes, and pumpkin patches. There are so many great events they had to make it seven weekends long! For a full schedule of events, visit thebeachestowoodlandstour.com.
Sept. 24 – Nov. 5 In between football games this fall, head over to “The Nuttiest Place Around” in Milton to play Farm Scene Investigation in the corn maze. Aw, shucks! The fun continues with the corn bin, petting zoo, pony rides, hayrides, bouncy house, and farm games. After you conquer the maze, unwind with some front porch rocking and Holland Farms’ famous boiled peanuts. Visit hollandfarms.mazeplay.com to purchase your tickets.
Oct. 1 – 31 Get lost in some good old-fashioned fun at Hillcrest Farm’s Fifth Annual Corn Maze. While you are there, gather a cornucopia of u-pick fruits and vegetables that are ripe for the picking! They are open to explore every day except Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8 am to 6 pm. Visit Hillcrest Farm on Facebook for updates, or call them at 251.962.2500 for information on group admissions, pricing, and directions.
18 | pensacola magazine
The Pensacola Interstate Fair Oct. 20 – 30 The smell of funnel cake and spun sugar is in the air, which can only mean one thing—the Pensacola Interstate Fair is in town! Along with countless food vendors, the largest event on the Gulf Coast will feature over 60 rides, live music, and many educational exhibits. This year’s musical lineup includes Little River Band, Bret Michaels, Smash Mouth, and more. The crowning jewel of this year’s fair is the First Annual “Miss Pensacola Interstate Fair” Beauty Pageant, which will surely add to the glitz and glamour of the festivities. As if all that isn’t groovy enough, Scooby-Doo and Shaggy will make a special appearance on Monday, Oct. 24 for meet-and-greets and photo opportunities. Zoinks! For a full list of events, prices, and admission details, visit the Pensacola fair website at pensacolafair.com or call 944.4500
First City Art Center’s Tenth Annual Glass Pumpkin Patch Oct. 8 Come harvest a piece of art that is simply out of this gourd! First City Art Center’s Tenth Annual Glass Pumpkin Patch is home to over 3,000 handmade glass and clay pumpkins. Celebrate a decade of fall art in the newly expanded First City Art Center, Creative Warehouse 1 from 9 am to 2 pm. Can’t wait to see the art? Then the preview party on Friday night is the event for you! Scope out your favorite pieces and enjoy some food from 6 to 9 pm. Doors open for members at 5 pm. For more information and to purchase tickets to the preview party, visit firstcityart.org.
Hadji Haunted House
Halloween Horror Hospital
October 14–31, select dates Are you ready to experience Pensacola’s largest haunted house? With 23 rooms and over 8,000 square feet of terrifyingly haunted space, Hadji Haunted House is a must visit this Halloween. Opening weekend is October 14-15, and it will be an experience you won’t forget. Tickets are $20 for adults and $5 for children under 12. Proceeds benefit Pensacola Breast Cancer Association Charity a 501(C)3 and the benefit of Hadji Shriners. For more information, visit www.hadjihauntedhouse. com.
Oct. 21, 22, 28, 29, 30, 31 Binge watching horror films is a favorite Halloween tradition. Take a break from your Netflix queue by coming to experience this spooky performance event that is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. The First City Shakespeare and the Southeastern Teen Shakespeare Company present Theatre of the Macabre in the old Sacred Heart hospital at 12th and Gonzalez in East Hill. The performers will harness the creepy atmosphere of the notoriously haunted hospital on this part historical tour and part live performance. Early performances are family friendly and later performances are for a mature audience. Haunt setsco.org for show times, pricing, and tickets.
pensacola magazine | 19
26th Annual Haunted House Walking and Trolley Tours Oct. 22, 28, 29 Thrill-seekers beware! The Haunted House Walking and Trolley Tours of Downtown Pensacola are sure to get your skin crawling. Tour guides dressed in historically accurate costumes will get your adrenaline pumping as they unearth the ghostly secrets of Downtown Pensacola. Check out the darker side of Pensacola on The Murder and Mayhem Walking Tour, Seville Spirits Walking Tour, the adults-only Redlight Tour, or The Trolley of the Doomed. To learn more about tour times, locations, and tickets, visit historicpensacola.org or call 595.5985.
YOUTH ART PROGRAMS & FALL ART CLASSES AFTER-SCHOOL & HOMESCHOOL CLASSES GRADES 1ST-12TH October 11- December 16 January 3- March 10 March 28- May 25 Make A Birthday Party, Team-Building, Or Holiday Party Memorable With Glassblowing Or Pottery!
Glassblowing (Age 8+) Pottery & Stained Glass Painting & Drawing Workshops First City Art Center is a nonprofit working arts center that encourages people of all backgrounds, ages and skill levels to explore, participate and experiment with art.
Firstcityart.org
850-429-1222 • 1060 N. Guillemard St Pensacola Fl 20 | pensacola magazine
Boo at the Zoo Oct. 22, 23, 29, 30 Boo at the Zoo offers more treats than tricks for your little monsters. Treats, toys, and treasures galore can be found on the Trick or Treat Trail. Bounce houses, face painting, a critter touch station, and balloon animals are sure to provide hours of fun. Boo at the Zoo of Gulf Breeze invites you to bring your gentle giraffes and loveable ladybugs for scare-free Halloween fun. Kids and adults alike are encouraged to wear fun, not scary, costumes. Visit gbzoo.com for more information.
Pensacola Downtown Halloween Trick-or-Treat
photo illustration by Diane Skelton
Oct. 29 Double, bubble, toil and trouble. Stir up some Halloween magic on this candy crawl down Palafox between Garden and Main streets. At this event sponsored by the Downtown Improvement Board (DIB), kids can trick-or-treat from over 60 businesses from 4 pm to 7:30 pm. This trickor-treating adventure is sure to have those trick-or-treating cauldrons overflowing with goodies. Contact the DIB at 434.5371 for more information.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show at the PLT Oct. 28–Nov. 5 The return of The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a crowd favorite. Presented as a part of Foo Foo Fest, join the Pensacola Little Theatre for this special fundraising event for the craziest night of theatre all year! Do the Time Warp, dress as your favorite character, shout comeback lines, the whole Transsexual Transylvanian cult experience is happening on the Mainstage! For more information, visit www.pensacolalittletheatre.com.
Jamey Jones Lewis Warsh
Director, Creative Writing, LIU
Poet Laureate of NW FL
Barbara Henning Professor Emerita, Creative Writing, LIU
National Poets Expand Foo Foo Horizons!
W
est Florida Literary Federation is offering “Writing off the Wall” with free poetry readings, reasonably priced workshops, and more fun events with a local flair at this year’s Foo Foo Fest. Lewis Warsh and Barbara Henning, noted contemporary writers, will team with Poet Laureate of Northwest Florida Jamey Jones for our Nov. 10-13 literary celebration. Jones will also interview the writers at a “Sunday Brunch with the Poets.” For more details, check out our Facebook page or WFLF.org
400 S. Jefferson St. Suite 212 Pensacola, FL 32502 • FooFooFest.com pensacola magazine | 21
Pensacola Opera
Cordially Invites You To
Experience the power, excitement, and beauty of your favorite opera and musical theatre pieces performed by nationallyacclaimed opera singers table side.
Saturday, October 15, 2016 6:00pm - 10:30pm Skopelos at New World $150 per person
Keep It Real This Holiday Season
www.pensacolaopera.com (850) 433-6737
Adopt-A-ManateeÂŽ for Loved Ones
Call 1-800-432-JOIN (5646) savethemanatee.org Photo Š David Schrichte
22 | pensacola magazine
“Poetry can steer us positively into the future.” An Interview with Jamey Jones, Poet Laureate of Northwest Florida Jamey Jones, the seventh Poet Laureate of Northwest Florida, is a fifth generation Pensacolian where he has long been an activist for poetry by creating numerous reading series, conducting workshops, and giving readings and lectures. His poetic beginnings go back to discovering poetry in the (then) Pensacola Junior College Library. Jones soon started the Back Door Poets, Pensacola’s longest-running open mic series, with two other people. Later he studied under Allen Ginsberg and worked with noted poets Anne Waldman, Barbara Henning, Lewis Warsh, and Bernadette Mayer. He is the author of several chapbooks, including “The Derby Earth” (Sub City 2003), “the notebook troubled the sleepdoor” (brown boke 2008) and “Twelve Windows” (brown boke 2009). In 2010 he earned an MFA in Creative Writing from Long Island University where he taught while in grad school on a teaching fellowship. After returning home, he taught at Ferry Pass Middle School and the University of West Florida. He currently teaches English, literature, and poetry at Pensacola State College. As a teacher, he emphasizes cognizance of process and demonstrates awareness of place. His book Blue Rain Morning, (Farfalla, McMillan and Parrish, 2011), a 110 page collection of poetry published in 2011, resonates with the meaning of place, beginning and ending in Pensacola and is a “universe wherein the spaces are like the passages in an old attractive house” (Jack Collom). As New York poet Lewis Warsh says, “Jamey has literally put Pensacola on the poetry map.” I became acquainted with Jamey’s poetry when his name came up as a poet laureate candidate. Recently we met at Constant Coffee and Tea to discuss his work and current involvements.
You’ve been Poet Laureate of Northwest Florida for two years now with one year remaining. How has this title affected you as a poet? It’s been an honor, first of all. I had the philosophy going into it that I would say yes to every opportunity that came up, not having any idea how many opportunities that might be. There have been quite a few and so far I haven’t turned anybody down. I’ve spoken to the Rotary Club, read at the New Year’s Eve Pelican Drop, which was a thrill and delight, talked to a Girl Scout troop, read at bars, gave book talks, taught a poetry workshop for most of a semester
at Ferry Pass Middle School and was the keynote speaker at their Dream Flag Project, something I started ten years ago when I taught there. I also organized a collaborative reading at Artel Gallery called “Beyond the Quiet Desperation,” which required writers to respond to the works of Henry David Thoreau. I’ve always been a public poet, but it’s been even more so since becoming Poet Laureate. It’s also made me aware of my own time and that I probably need to be a little more thoughtful of that and take more time to write. I’m a teacher already, so I’m talking to
WRITTEN By
Andrea Walker
students all the time and trying to help them. I see the Poet Laureate position as representing the face of poetry in Northwest Florida, so hopefully I’m succeeding at that.
How do you describe the emphasis of your work? The emphasis of my work is really on how I engage with my daily life, so there’s a strong emphasis on process. In fact, I’m more interested in process than I am in the final product, so a lot of times my poems won’t have a specific meaning necessarily, but hopefully they represent the process of thinking or even getting beyond thought.
I talk about process a lot, not only in my poetics, but in my pedagogy as well. I emphasize it a lot in all my classes. Of course you want the grade, you want to do well, but honestly it’s bigger than the grade; it’s about accurately describing the dignity of your own experience.
Where does your process start? Every morning I write in my notebook. I used to write full poems, but that rarely happens any more. I get up and write throughout the day. It might be ideas. I often write dreams. My journal is a combination of dreams, thoughts, ideas, found language, without struggling pensacola magazine | 23
“Poetry is really a different language, like a second language, compared to prose. It has the possibility of leading our minds to a healthier place by helping us be more in tune with our existence.” for any one meaning. I’m just writing as a practice every day. I go back later and cull through the notebook and say okay, out of those three or four pages, that’s mostly kind of sloppy, but there’s one jewel right there. So I build on that. Sometimes I take bits and pieces and construct some sort of poem out of that, and often it exceeds anything I was thinking and takes me to another level. So it’s ongoing. Last year I taught at PSC’s Warrington campus and had a lot more driving time. I get my clothes dry cleaned, so I end up with a lot of these clothes hangers with paper on them. They’re really a pain; I never know quite what to do with them. They’re everywhere, tangled up together in the closet, bedroom and backseat of my car, so on my morning drive to school I’d want to write, at a stop light or pulled over on the side of the road, and there they were—these paper triangles ready to be filled in with words. So I started writing on them, which was fun. It made me write in a very different way, and they look really amazing. But the deal was, and this is the way I work anyway, I’m not trying to mean any one thing, 24 | pensacola magazine
no pressure; I am simply just writing. Get it out first. It’s a daily process. If the clothes hangers aren’t there and the notebook’s not there, I write on my hand. Really.
Can you speak on the importance of poetry in our lives as a society and as a community? To me, poetry cuts through the noise of social media, daily news, 24-hour networks, newspapers, etcetera, that’s constantly coming at us from all directions. A lot of that’s important, but we’re bombarded with it. Poetry is really a different language, like a second language, compared to prose. It has the possibility of leading our minds to a healthier place by helping us be more in tune with our existence. It’s also a vehicle that allows us to honestly engage with daily life in a more authentic way. Poetry says what can’t be said in prose and points to something beyond what we know. The poet Alice Notley said, “We know more than we think we know.” Sometimes we don’t realize what we’re thinking until we write it down. There are many ways to make sense, and poetry can get us to that. I believe it’s spiritual, at least for me, and it gets us
beyond limited thinking. Also, poetry, like art in general, when we connect with it, can make us feel less alone, and that’s powerful. In society and at the community level, I think of public readings and open mics such as the ones we have at the Cultural Center, Sluggo’s, End of the Line, to name a few. Poetry involves a stillness and a silence. When we listen to people read, it makes us stop. We’re probably not going to get everything we’re hearing, but we’re going to get snippets of what’s going on. We’re watching and listening to the poet read. It’s not just what they’re reading. It’s the way they look, their body language, their eyes, the sound of their voice and the way they breathe. There’s a lot more going on up there. Those are terrific events and they have the power of bringing us closer together as a community and as citizens of the world. On the individual level, it makes us more attuned to ourselves; we all could use that. I could certainly use it. The more we are in tune to ourselves, collectively, that cannot be anything other than beneficial. If we’re just watching the news all the time, especially now with this circus of a presidential
campaign, that would make you go insane. Nothing silent about it. Reading and writing anything involve imagination. I tell my students this in my Early American Literature class. In order to understand these Puritans, these early conquistadors who kept journals, you have to imagine what they were up against. They were human, after all. If they were in Florida, they were dealing with intense heat, humidity, mosquitos, snakes and alligators. You have to imagine that for the words to really mean something. Furthermore, a better reality can happen if we can imagine it first. Poetry is an art form that can steer us positively into the future.
What is one community project you would like to pull off in the future? I’d love a project that involves the community writing together at different geographic locations around the city, focused on place. We all write together where the emphasis is not on any one of us but all of us together as poets of this Panhandle region. That would be wonderful. We’ll see.
Poetry Readings at FooFoo Fest Readings and workshops by nationally renowned poets Barbara Henning and Lewis Warsh will highlight the four-day poetry celebration being presented by West Florida Literary Federation as part of the 2016 Foo Foo Festival. The New York City authors between them have published more than 30 books of poetry, fiction and autobiography. Henning, a retired Long Island University professor, will present a reading and book signing at Artel Gallery on Nov. 10 at 7 to 8:30 pm and a writers’ workshop at the Bowden Building on Nov. 11 from 10 am until noon. Warsh will present a reading and book signing at Artel on Nov. 11, 7 to 8:30 pm, and a workshop at Bowden Building from 10 am to noon on Nov. 12; he is director of the Master of Fine Arts program in creative writing at Long Island University. Workshop fees: $25 each. Northwest Florida Poet Laureate Jamey Jones will interview both featured poets at a 10 am to noon Sunday brunch Nov. 13 at Voices of Pensacola; $25 cost includes gift bag and poet interviews. Other planned WFLF festival events are themed wheatpasting and Graffiti Bridge art in partnership with Art Beyond Walls. – By Charlotte Crane
Barbara BarbaraHenning Henning Henning is identified is a poet, novelist and teacher. She was born in Detroit, Mich., and attended Wayne State University before moving to New York City in 1983. She also has lived in New Mexico, Arizona and India. She is the author of three novels and nine collections of poetry. Her first book
of poems, “Smoking in the Twilight Bar,” was published by Warsh in 1988. Her most recent books are three collections of poetry and prose, “A Day Like Today” (2015), “A Swift Passage” (2013) and “Cities & Memory” (2010); and a novel, “Thirty Miles to Rosebud” (2009). She has taught at Naropa University, the University of Arizona and Long Island University in Brooklyn, where she is professor emerita. She is also a long-time yoga practitioner. For more information about Henning, visit barbarahenning.com.
Lewis Warsh and Barbara Henning have been well known in the poetry community for decades, and they have been friends since 1985. Biographies and samples of their work can be found on the Poetry Foundation’s website (www.poetryfoundation.org/). – By Janet Thomas
About West Florida Literary Federation LewisWARSH Warsh LEWIS Born in the Bronx, N.Y., Warsh is identified as a principal member of the second generation of the New York School poets. His career has spanned the experimental writing movement on both coasts. He started writing poetry and fiction as a teenager and published his first poems in 1965. His most recent collection of poems, “Alien Abduction,” was released in 2015. He also has produced novels, commentaries, translations and art works. Walsh earned a master’s in English at City College of New York, and co-founded Angel Hair magazine and books with Anne Waldman in 1966. He later joined a community of writers at The Poetry Project at St. Mark’s Church and became co-editor for United Artists Magazine and Books. He is the founding director of the Master of Fine Arts program in creative writing at Long Island University (2007-2013) and now teaches English there. For more information about Warsh, visit lewiswarsh.com.
West Florida Literary Federation traces its origin to 1986 when a small group of literary-minded residents founded a network to support creative writers. The group’s mission has been to bring people together who are interested in the literary heritage of West Florida and to provide a creative environment to help build connections between local writers. The non-profit group offers programs, workshops, awards, critique sessions, open mic readings and related activities for members and the public. The group also publishes a biannual anthology and sponsors the annual Escambia County student poetry contest. For more information, visit wflf.org.
pensacola magazine | 25
26 | pensacola magazine
Dabble in Voodoo NOLA’s Voodoo Music + Arts Experience Returns Halloween Weekend written by Dawn Gresko
T
here is arguably no better way to spend Halloween than by infusing yourself with the mysterious magic of Voodoo. No, we don’t mean that age-old practice involving shrunken heads, zombies and old chicken bones—we’re talking about the Voodoo Music + Arts Experience, also called Voodoo Fest, one of the Gulf Coast’s most unique festivals that combines music, art and food into one unforgettable experience. This year’s event boasts a lineup of over 65 bands and musicians with headliners like Tool, Arcade Fire and The Weeknd, who are set to perform on the festival grounds in City Park over the course of three days from Oct. 28 to 30.
While City Park spans a whopping 1,300 acres, the venue for Voodoo Fest is laid out on the park’s festival grounds, covering an area of roughly 55 to 60 acres—all of which Voodoo Fest will utilize to offer festival-goers the optimal music and arts experience.
pensacola magazine | 27
Dabble in Voodoo
“This year we’re changing up some things that haunted us (no pun intended) in the past,” said Sig Greenebaum of C3 Presents, co-director of Voodoo Fest. “To improve sound and how people maneuver around the park, we’ve moved and re-directed some stages, which we’re thinking is a real game changer. We’ve also made the site bigger by extending fence lines out so there’s more room for people to travel.” In addition to four stages featuring non-stop music, this year Voodoo Fest partnered with Spin Magazine and Toyota to offer a special fifth stage—where fans will have close access to artists from the Voodoo lineup in a more intimidate, possibly acoustic and strippeddown, DJ-booth setting. More tweaks to this year’s festival include the use of radio-frequency identification (RFID) in all registered wristbands, a technology that uses electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags attached to objects (i.e. your Voodoo Fest wristband). Each person is assigned a pin with their wristband, which allows you to track friends and family at the festival—as well as your children—so no one gets lost. Speaking of children, did we mention Voodoo Fest is family friendly? Kids under the 28 | pensacola magazine
age of 10 get in free and there will be a parking lot near Storyland in City Park for parents to drop off/pick up children under the age of 18 during festival hours. In addition to RFID technology, your wristbands will also allow you to go cashless; as long as you have a good card on file, you can pay for food, souvenirs and just about anything else you see at the festival with a quick scan of your wristband, so you don’t have to worry about the tricky task of keeping tabs on your wallet and credit/debit card. Another convenient feature Voodoo Fest is promoting is the MyFest account, which allows you to sign up using either an existing Facebook or Spotify account. All you have to do is make sure your first and last names along with your email address are accurate, then you can begin to customize your schedule. MyFest allows you to share your schedule with friends,
“
It’s really incredible how the festival grounds change after the sun goes down. It’s like you’re in a whole new venue by night.”
Customize your Experience MyFest Account
Get the most out of your festival experience by following these simple steps to create a MyFest account and customize your Voodoo Music + Arts Experience schedule based on the bands and artists you want to see.
1. Sign Up
Go to voodoofestival.com. On the horizontal bar at the top of the page, click on the “MyFest” button. You’ll be instructed on how to create a free account using either an existing Facebook or Spotify account, or by using your email address coupled with your first and last name.
2. Customize Your Schedule
Once you’ve signed in, you’ll have access to your MyFest page via the Voodoo Festival website. Use the website to explore band and individual artist pages and keep an eye out for the “+” or “+ADD” button, which you must click on to add an artist/band to your schedule list. You can view or edit your list by going to the MyFest Page; click the “MyFest” button, which will pop up a drop-down list, then hit the button labeled “MyFest Page.”
3. Share with Friends
If you bring up the drop-down list after selecting “MyFest,” you’ll see a tab labeled “My Account.” Click on the tab and you will be brought to a page with your account information. Scroll down and you’ll notice there is a “Unique MyFest Link.” Copy this link and share with friends via text message and/or email to keep them posted on your schedule.
4. Enjoy Voodoo Music + Arts Experience 2016
Once you’ve added them to your lineup, your MyFest account will notify you on when and what stage your favorite artist(s) will be performing. All you have to do is enjoy the festival and wait for the special notification to alert you on your Smartphone.
so they know when and at what stage to meet you, plus it reminds you of when your favorite band is going to take the stage so you don’t get sidetracked for too long. And it’s pretty easy to get sidetracked from sensory overload at Voodoo Fest. There’s a plethora of activities from which to choose, and in fact, while waiting for your next band to hop on stage, you might take a stroll through the scenic venue of New Orlean’s City Park and explore the many winding trails and admire trees older than the park itself. “It’s really incredible how the festival grounds change after the sun goes down,” explained Sig. “It’s like you’re in a whole new venue by night. We have the trees in City Park decked out with lights that come on after dark and coupled with the beautiful fall weather—the setting really shows the spirit of Halloween and the season.” For all you thrill-seekers, there will be amusement park rides for you to conquer: from a towering ferris wheel offering breathtaking aerial views of City Park to an additional three to four rides all about high-velocity, adrenalineinducing entertainment. As for food, you can expect to treat your tastebuds to lots of local flavors from the likes
of restaurants such as Boucherie, Dat Dog, Regionelli’s, Blue Dot Barbecue, and Big Cheezy to name a few—who will all be serving up their versions of traditional NOLA dishes. Whether you appreciate art, or simply appreciate snapping a picture of yourself in front of cool art installations for your social media, there will be a variety of new and returning interactive art for you to immerse in. From the 20-foot art piece called The Cone, which spins and swirls in two different directions while you stand inside it, to giant “Voodoo” letters positioned where you can easily snap a quick pic for your Instagram or Facebook page. Don’t forget to #voodoofest! When you’re not romping around festival grounds from noon to 11 pm each day, feel free to go out on the town: enjoy an exhibit at the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) within walking distance from the festival grounds at City Park, or perk up with some caffeine fuel at Morning Call (where you can find the expected NOLA café items like beignets and café au laits 24 hours a day). On Friday and Saturday, Oct. 28 and 29, select participants from Voodoo Fest will have the chance to enter a special, spooky contest:
Voodoo Fest will ask a select few to stay a night in The Mortuary, a famous haunted house and historic grand Victorian mansion that once housed a mortuary. Equipped with ghost-hunting gear, those who agree to stay the night will have the chance to document their experience and reveal any ghostly findings. Winners earn exclusive bragging rights to say they braved The Mortuary on the days leading up to All Hallows’ Eve. Also, Voodoo Fest is partnering with The Mortuary to create an especially spooky scene on festival grounds; there will be a scary, Halloween zone complete with ominous fog, fully-costumed actors and mortuary-themed art with which you are welcome to interact. Between the amusement park rides, Halloween costume and contest fun, local flavor in the form of NOLA’s signature food staples, as well as musical performances by some of the most popular artists around—Voodoo Fest will cast a spell on you, but we promise you won’t mind.
pensacola magazine | 29
30 | pensacola magazine
Discover North hill Living
Lovers of historic homes are in for a treat this October when The North Hill Preservation Association, Inc. presents, “Fall in Love with North Hill - The Historic North Hill District Tour of Homes.” The tour will take place on Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016 from 11 am to 4 pm. Attendees can enjoy spending a lovely afternoon in Pensacola’s largest residential historic district, strolling tree lined streets past many lovely historic parks, Revolutionary War battlefield sites, and touring inside of six never before opened to the public historic homes dating from the late 1800s. Guests will enjoy traveling back in time as they stroll through the neighborhood seeing rare, vintage automobiles which will be on display along the tour route, and enjoy treats from an oldfashioned neighborhood lemonade and bake shop stand, and enjoy glass blowing demonstrations provided by First City Art Center. pensacola magazine | 31
Discover North hill Living The North Hill Preservation District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and consists of a more than 50 block area just north of Pensacola’s Downtown Business District and represents one of the finest collections of Victorian and early 20th century architecture in Florida. The majority of the buildings date from Pensacola’s lumber boom between 1880 and 1914, and with the post-war prosperity of the 1920’s. Free parking will be available at 1301 N. Palafox St., and on all neighborhood streets. Most of the homes are within walking distance. Feel free to drive to each home and park on the street if that is more comfortable for you. All attendees must check in at 20 West Lee Street to get a tour booket, which will allow admission into the homes. Attendees can view the homes in any order. Tickets for this history and fun-filled Historic North Hill District Tour of Homes are $20 in advance and will be available on Sept. 1st through Historic North Hill’s website, historicnorthhill. com and at the following retail outlets: Creative House, 1200 N. Palafox St.; Ooodles Antique Mall (3733 West Navy Blvd.); Sage & Ivy Designs (4616 Woodbine Rd.); and Copper Possum Antique Mall, 7060 Hwy. 90. Tickets will also be available the day of the event for $25 at 20 West Lee Street, Pensacola. The event will be held rain or shine. Online ticket sales and more tour information available at www.historicnorthhill.com DATE: Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016 11 am–4 pm TICKETS: $20 in advance/$25 day of event. Children under 13 accompanied with adult are free. INFO: (850) 438-2156
32 | pensacola magazine
34 | pensacola magazine
Savor the Season S Family Features
pice things up this season with some uniquely delicious recipe options that are perfect for most any occasion. Serve beet, feta and walnut scones for brunch or as an accompaniment to soups or salads. Starting with Aunt Nellie’s Quick sausage and german potato salad skillet is on the lunch or dinner table in 20 minutes. Sides are easy, too, with this quick-to-assemble spicy carrot-sweet potato Casserole. If roasted vegetables are more your style, try thymescented roasted vegetables, accented with sweet, tangy pickled beets.
Beet, Feta and Walnut Scones Servings: 8 Prep time: 25 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes 1 jar (16 ounces) Aunt Nellie’s Sliced Pickled Beets 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 1/2 cup milk (2 percent or skim) 1/3 cup olive oil 1 egg, beaten 1/4 cup thinly sliced green onion 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary 1 small clove garlic, minced 2/3 cup crumbled feta cheese (not fat-free) 1/2 cup coarsely chopped toasted walnuts 8 rosemary sprigs
Heat oven to 400 F. Drain beets well. Chop coarsely; set aside on paper towels. In large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt and pepper. In small bowl, whisk together milk, oil and egg. Stir in onion, rosemary and garlic. Add milk mixture to flour mixture. Stir to combine. Gently stir in feta and walnuts, just until combined, then add beets and stir gently to combine. Turn out onto lightly floured surface. Knead dough three to four times to smooth. Pat into 9-inch round on ungreased baking sheet. Cut into 8 triangles; do not separate. Lightly press rosemary sprigs into each scone. Bake 20 minutes, or until light goldenbrown. Cool on baking sheet; set on wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.
pensacola magazine | 35
Savor the Season Quick Sausage and German Potato Salad Skillet Servings: 4 Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes 2 teaspoons olive or vegetable oil 1 medium red or yellow onion, cut into 1/2-inch thick wedges 1 cup chopped red bell pepper 3/4 pound pre-cooked smoked chicken or turkey sausage links 1 can (15 ounces) READ German Potato Salad 1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper chopped parsley (optional) In large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and bell pepper. Cook and stir 1 minute. Add sausages; continue cooking 5 minutes until browned and heated through, turning occasionally. Remove sausages from skillet. Add potato salad and black pepper to skillet. Stir to combine with onion mixture. Return sausages to skillet. Cook 2-3 minutes until heated through. Sprinkle with parsley, if desired.
Thyme-Scented Roasted Vegetables and Beets Servings: 4 Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 30 minutes 1 jar (16 ounces) Aunt Nellie’s Whole Pickled Beets, drained, halved ½ pound baby carrots 1 medium onion, cut through core into 1/2-inch wedges 8 ounces shallots, peeled, halved if large 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 clove garlic, minced Heat oven to 400 F. Line 15-by-10-inch jelly roll pan with aluminum foil. Add beets, carrots, onion and shallots. Drizzle with oil; sprinkle with thyme, salt and pepper; toss to coat. Roast, uncovered, 15 minutes. Add garlic to vegetables; toss well. Return to oven and continue roasting 15 minutes, or until vegetables are tender and lightly browned. Note: 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme may be substituted for dried thyme leaves. For more seasonal recipes, visit AuntNellies.com and READsalads.com. 36 | pensacola magazine
A.A. Cunningham Road paving notice ... Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast (NavFac SE) has awarded a contract to mill and overlay A.A. Cunningham Road on NAS Pensacola. The work is scheduled to begin the week of Sept. 12 and expected to take four weeks to complete. Watch for “Road Closed” and “Detour” signs. Detour routes to facilities in the area will be Page Road to Warehouse Road and Farrar Road to Pat Bellinger Road. Drivers should observe the warning signs and proceed with caution around the work zones. The work schedule is weather dependent. For questions or more information, contact the PWD Construction Manager Bryan Moeller at 452-3131, ext. 3077.
Vol. 80, No. 35
VISIT GOSPORT ONLINE: www.gosportpensacola.com
September 2, 2016
Fallen Special Tactics Airman honored at NASP By Capt. Katrina Cheesman Sibley’s unit. “This dedication 24th Special Operations Wing and memorial ruck is an important step for us as a brotherhood Air Force Special Tactics Air- to honor Forrest’s legacy of men dedicated a military freefall valor, and get a small bit of clotraining exercise into Pensacola sure.” Bay Aug. 26 to His teammates Staff Sgt. Forrest escorted the famSibley, a combat ily to Sibley’s controller from burial site, wearPensacola killed ing combat ruck in action Aug. 26, sacks weighing 2015, in Helmand more than 50 Pr o v i n c e , pounds to repreAfghanistan. It sent the deployed. was the first anOnce at the niversary of Sibcemetery, they ley’s death. completed a After free round of memoStaff Sgt. falling into the rial push-ups to Forrest Sibley waters of Sibley’s honor their fallen hometown, his teammates teammate. joined family members and Sibley, 31, had served in the friends to complete a memorial Air Force as a combat controller ruck march to his final resting since 2008. In his seven years of place at Barrancas National service, he received four Bronze Cemetery (BNC). Star Medals, once with valor for “When we lost Forrest, most heroism in combat, as well as a of his teammates were still de- Purple Heart for injuries susployed for another five months, tained in combat. and couldn’t attend any funeral “Forrest was one of our best or memorial event,” said Lt. Col. combat controllers, but he was Stewart Parker, commander of 21st Special Tactics Squadron, See Sibley on page 2
After parachuting into Pensacola Bay, members of the Air Force’s 21st Special Tactics Squadron make a memorial “ruck march,” a hike with full packs, from NAS Pensacola’s Bayou Grande Marina to Barrancas National Cemetery and the grave of teammate Staff Sgt. Forrest Sibley. Sibley was killed in action Aug. 26, 2015. He had served in the Air Force as a combat controller since 2008. Photo by Mike O’Connor For more photos, see page A4
CNATT: Make Labor Day weekend safety a priority Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Public Affairs
The Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training (CNATT) safety manager is reminding service members, civilian employees and their families to maintain safety awareness as they prepare for what is generally viewed as the end of summer. CNATTSafety Manager Krystal Hancock said that Labor Day, a federal holi-
day designed to honor the achievements of American workers, includes an extended weekend, with service members and their families often electing to travel to see family and friends. “Whether taking a long road trip or simply jumping in the car to run a quick errand, driving is inherently risky, and traffic mishaps continue to
be a leading reason for lost time, days, and lives across our force,” she said. Hancock said the National Safety Council (NSC) predicts this could be the deadliest Labor Day weekend for drivers in eight years, estimating that more than 430 people could be killed in traffic accidents throughout the Labor Day weekend. She added that service members, often sepa-
rated from their families and travelling significant distances to visit during the long weekend, should take some simple precautions before and during their trips. “Get enough rest before heading outsleepy driving is as dangerous as impaired driving,” she said. “Alternate drivers or take frequent breaks to ensure that whoever is behind the wheel stays alert.” See Labor Day on page 2
‘Be There’ for your shipmates during Suicide Prevention Month 2016 By James Rosenfelder U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery public affairs
NAS Pensacola to host 9/11 commemoration ceremony ... In commemoration of the events of Sept. 11, 2001, Naval Air Station Pensacola will present a ceremony at the National Naval Aviation Museum aboard the base at 10 a.m. Sept. 9. The event will include a guest speaker and a musical rendition from the NATTC Choir, a traditional “two-bell” ceremony, honors performed by the NASP Honor Guard and a 21-gun volley. The public is invited to attend.
Navy Medicine recognizes September as National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, which began Sept. 1. The theme for Suicide Prevention Month 2016 is “Be There.” Throughout the month, Navy Medicine will highlight the power of peer support and personal wellness, encouraging Sailors and Marines to be there for their shipmates. “Action starts with prevention,” said Vice Adm. Forrest Faison, Navy surgeon general and chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BuMed). “When a Sailor needs assistance, easy access to support resources and mental health treatment is essential, as is validation of help-seeking behaviors.” Suicide prevention is a yearlong effort. Suicide Prevention Month serves as a reminder that building resilience and preventing suicide requires all
members of the Navy and Marine Corps community to work together. Every life lost to suicide is one too many. “Take action if you notice anything
out of the ordinary for a shipmate; reach out to them,” Faison said. “If you are having difficulties, seek help if See Prevention on page 2
FatAlbertis getting a facelift...Fat Albert, the Blue Angels’ C-130 cargo plane used for transporting crew and equipment to air shows around the country, is currently undergoing a chemical de-paint process at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma after corrosion was found. Once the de-paint process and sheetmetal checks for any other corrosion are complete, Fat Albert will fly to Hill Air Force Base, Utah, for full programmed depot maintenance and paint. Photo by Kelly White
GOSPORTPENSACOLA.COM GOSPORTPENSACOLA.COM GOSPORTPENSACOLA.COM GOSPORTPENSACOLA.COM GOSPORTPENSACOLA.COM GOSPORTPENSACOLA.COM
GOSPORTPENSACOLA.COM
Published by BallingerPublishing, a private firm in no way connected with the Department of the Navy. Opinions contained herein are not official expressions of the Department of the Navy nor do the advertisements constitute Department of the Navy, NAS Pensacola or Ballinger Publishing’s endorsement of products or services advertised.
pensacola magazine | 37
Visit Our Residential Lending Experts
Diana Blanchard
Nancy Connelly 850-995-9340
850-202-4285
850-202-1307
NMLS# 1116943
NMLS #805531
NMLS #647520
NMLS #416348
850-202-4284
Purchase
Refinance
Marty Rich
New Construction
mygulfbank.com 38 | pensacola magazine
GC0218 Lending Ad Pns Mag.indd 1
Ed Brown
Renovation
NMLS #412799 7/26/16 11:37 AM
TV Time
It’s been called the Golden Age of Television, this period of prestige content being produced right now.
Flip through the stations (or the streaming apps of your choice) and you’ll find antiheroes, superheroes, heroes of the working class and more. There’s people of color, trans people, gay people and more diversity than ever delivering dialogue that rivals major motion pictures and independent films alike. Decades from now, we will look back fondly on this era. We’ve traveled to Westeros and Krypton, Albuquerque and New Orleans. A record number of scripted shows will hit the airwaves this fall, and while many are deserving of attention, there are a few new and returning hits that are especially great. Your time is limited (as is the space on your DVR), so set your dinner plate in your lap, sit in front of the small screen, and watch some great television. Warning: spoilers for returning shows. – by Josh Newby
pensacola magazine | 39
New Network/Cable Westworld HBO Loosely based on Michael Crichton’s sci-fi western thriller of the same name about amusement park robots that exist for pleasure but soon malfunction and begin killing visitors. The production has been notoriously bogged by reshoots, contract disputes, and controversial subject material. Showrunner Jonathan Nolan (brother of film director Christopher) lends a bit of feature film gravitas to the proceedings. It’s anyone’s guess if this will be the next Game of Thrones—or the next Vinyl. Be it good or bad, it’s sure to be entertaining.
Speechless ABC
If there’s one thing ABC knows how to do, it’s topical family dramedy. Modern Family, Blackish, The Middle—all are hits that in one way or another tackle complex issues with heart and laughter. Well add to that list Speechless, a show starring Minnie Driver as a mother of three who keeps moving her family around until she finds a school district capable of properly caring for her eldest, who has cerebral palsy. While this show may read like an afterschool special, it is also way funnier than it has any right to be. By poking just the right amount of fun at all its characters and allowing them to live through the struggles and triumphs of life with optimism, this show exceeds both as a comedy of the heart and a drama with laughs. 40 | pensacola magazine
Son of Zorn Fox
Are there too many comedies on this list? Probably, but most network television is too shy to get into the nitty-gritty that makes good drama. Son of Zorn is a hybrid live action/animated show that finds an 80s cartoon warrior entering our world in an attempt to rebuild relations with his 17-year-old son. It’s irreverent and not subtle in the slightest, but this is Fox after all, the channel that gave us The Simpsons, Family Guy, and Glee. Heavy-handed is kind of their thing. As long as that hand keeps giving us quality jokes, I say bring it on.
Atlanta FX
Donald Glover of Community and hip-hop fame is one of our generation’s most prolific creators, balancing comedic timing, clever lyrics, and raw sensibility in one looming and charming package. He stars as one of two cousins navigating their way in the southern rap scene while trying to improve their lives, friendships, families and more. The show has a low-rent quality of day-in-the-life-ness, but its unique perspective and challenging subplots are anything but.
returning Network/Cable Brooklyn Nine-Nine Fox
Last season’s cliffhanger ended with two major characters entering witness protection. One of the greatest delights about this little cop/workplace comedy is the ways in which its characters interact. Much like Parks & Recreation (from the same writing staff), this show is at its best when its diverse and interesting characters get into sticky situations, each bringing their own unique essence to the proceedings.
American Horror Story FX
Television’s most uneven offering returned in September following months of misdirection about its theme. For those out of the loop, American Horror Story is a Ryan Murphy joint that uses the same cast but different stories each season. The hallmarks of this show have been in settings like a haunted house and an asylum. The low points include a traveling circus and a haunted hotel. This season started with a genuinely scary bang and has not let up since. There are rumors this will be the last season of this televised experiment. Here’s hoping it returns to its glory days.
South Park Comedy Central
Has any year in this show’s 20-year run been more in need of South Park-style commentary? Probably not. How will the kids handle Trump’s ascendency, gender fluidness, Internet outrage, and Harambe? I need to be told how to think, and Cartman, Kyle, Stan and Kenny give me exactly that. Come on down south! We’ve missed you, South Park.
How To Get Away With Murder ABC
Of all the lurid, high-drama concepts of Shondaland (Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal), there is nothing more over-the-top than HTGAWM. The legal thriller is unrealistic, shallow and exploitive, but entertaining as hell. The twists never stop and the impassioned monologues give me LIFE. The perfect wine-companion of the fall season, you won’t be disappointed by Keating and her host of criminally compelling students.
pensacola magazine | 41
Streaming Luke Cage Netflix
We were first treated to Luke Cage and his invulnerability in last year’s Jessica Jones. Following huge amounts of fan support, Netflix is bringing him to his own show that is a mix of superhero action and 70s blaxploitation. The show follows Cage, an ex-con with superhuman strength turned renaissance man who fights neighborhood crime with gritty realism. Not a lot has been revealed about the show (which will have dropped by the time you’re reading this). Tell me how it is!
Gilmore Girls
Transparent
The Mindy Project
Can’t get enough of Lorelai and Rory? Well join the club! The limited-run Netflix revival will supposedly give fans everything they have been longing for from the mother and daughter duo since the show’s terribly disappointing seventh season. The new miniseries, subtitled A Year in the Life, will consist of four 90-minute episodes to be consumed immediately by yours truly. Also, each of Rory’s three major boyfriends have been listed as cast members. Theories commence!
Another show that will have had its season premiere by time you read this is Transparent, about a LA family following the discovery that the patriarch is transgender. The show is similar to Showtime’s Shameless in the way it deals with unsightly family dynamics and dysfunction, but also offers frequent uncomfortable laughs and an award-winning performance by Jeffrey Tambor. This offering is just one more example of the diverse and topical world television has become.
After being cancelled on Fox, Hulu snatched up this smart and female-centric comedy starring Mindy Kaling of The Office fame. Season five starts on Oct. 4, and unlike other streaming shows, will be released one episode per week. The big question on everyone’s minds: which man will Mindy choose—if she chooses one at all? Don’t worry, said Kaling at a recent press conference. All will be revealed in the premiere.
Netflix
42 | pensacola magazine
Amazon Prime
Hulu
DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM OCTOBER ISSUE NOW AVAILABLE! DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM
A VOYAGE TO COMIC CON THE FREEDOM OF FRIES SHOOT FOR THE STARS SPECIALS GUIDE
P E N SACO L A’ S
FIRST CITY
*
FREE
the first multi-year European settlement in the United States
The Greater Pensacola Area’s Entertainment Guide DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM • NEVER BE BORED. AUGUST 2016
A place for you in Pensacola
Business
n
Vacation
n
Extended Stay AIRPORT/CORDOVA MALL
P E N SACO L A’ S
2187 Airport Boulevard 850-478-1123 HamptonInnPensacolaAirport.com
1144 Airport Boulevard 850-479-8900 HiltonGardenInnPensacola.com JUNE 2016
FREE
YOUR OFFICIAL GALLERY NIGHT GUIDE
DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM • NEVER BE BORED.
5049 Corporate Woods Drive 850-474-3777 HomewoodSuitesPensacola.com
PENSACOLA DOWNTOWN
601 East Chase Street 850-432-0202 ResidenceInnPensacolaDowntown.com
700 East Chase Street 850-439-3330 CourtyardPensacolaDowntown.com
PENSACOLA BEACH
16 Via DeLuna 800-934-3301 • 850-934-3300 DaysInnPensacolaBeach.com
ballingerpublishing.com
850-932-9314 • Highpointe.com • 311 Gulf Breeze Pkwy • Gulf Breeze, FL
Season ticketholder?
Summati n Weekly
THE
Renew your seats for the thrilling 34th Season starting March 14. New subscriptions go on sale May 16.
SUMMATIONWEEKLY.COM
Giuseppe Verdi’s
AIDA Jan 20 & 22, 2017
&
The Florida Premiere of Jake Heggie’s
DEAD MAN
WALK-
ING
Mar 17 & 19, 2017 Season ticketholder? Renew your seats for the thrilling 34th Season starting March 14. New subscriptions go on sale May 16.
pensacolaopera.com
(850) 433-6737 75 S. Tarragona St., Pensacola, FL
An Advocate For Change: Sacred Heart’s Susan Davis By Jacqueline Cotterellaa
S
usan Davis, president and CEO of Sacred Heart Health System, is an advocate for change and a difference maker in the greater Pensacola area. She strongly believes in the importance of giving back to the community. “It’s not a question of finding the time; you make the time. This is my home and it’s important that our community have people who have access to good healthcare, quality education, meaningful employment and a safe home for them and their families,” says Davis. Sacred Heart has been a Women Build Home Builder sponsor for the past two years, creating teams of 10 women to be a part of and advocate for Women Build. Davis was a key member of the Sacred Heart team this past year and jumped at the opportunity to give back to her community alongside her staff, whom she proudly claimed are her everyday role models. Davis will not be building this year; however, she will be the key note speaker for the Women Build 2016 Home Build Celebration. This year’s Women Builders have an empowering message awaiting them.
pensacola magazine | 45
An Advocate For Change
So what makes Sacred Heart such a positive contributing force for Women Build? Davis believes the missions of Sacred Heart and Pensacola Habitat coincide by providing care and services for those in need. Sacred Heart advocates for community organizations that focus on safety, access to and readiness for quality education, the health of our community, and economic development. Davis and the Sacred Heart team were excited to be joining the Women Build movement, “Women Build is an opportunity for women to step forward and make a statement about the importance of giving back to the community and help end the cycle of poverty by helping provide affordable housing to those in need,” says Davis. As a healthcare provider, Sacred Heart understands the importance of affordable housing. “Affordable housing provides security and decreases stress that can cause illness,” says Davis. “They are connected and affect the ability of people to be gainfully employed and children to learn.” According to the Center for Housing Policy, affordable housing relieves crowding and allows for more household resources so families can purchase healthcare and healthy food. Stable and affordable housing impacts mental health by limiting the stress associated with financial burden or frequent
moves. Children in unstable housing are more likely to use emergency services, due to a lack of a regular healthcare provider. Affordable housing is vital to the health of our community. According to Davis, “Having a safe haven, a place where family values can be taught and learned, where families can gather, celebrate and create memories is a major benefit to the health of all families.” Pensacola Habitat for Humanity is thankful for Susan Davis and the Sacred Heart team for their involvement in Women Build and for what they strive for as a company—to provide care for the poor and vulnerable.
Pensacola Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build is a community event that brings more than 120 women together to construct a new home for a family in our community, while at the same time building awareness about the importance of affordable housing. Our Women Builders are in the process of raising $72,000 for the home and construction will take place on Oct.15 through 22, 2016. Pensacola Habitat for Humanity advocates for a world where everyone has a decent place to live. For more information, visit pensacolahabitat.org. 46 | pensacola magazine
NWFLBUSINESSCLIMATE.COM NWFLBUSINESSCLIMATE.COM NWFLBUSINESSCLIMATE.COM NWFLBUSINESSCLIMATE.COM NWFLBUSINESSCLIMATE.COM NWFLBUSINESSCLIMATE.COM NWFLBUSINESSCLIMATE.COM
Balto Labrador/American Foxhound mix One year old male
Rescue Meet 5 dogs that need your love today!
Me
Fore Pensacola
an Interview with Bubba Watson
Road Trip!
Amazing Destinations along Highway 90
SPECIAL BUSINESS CLIMATE SECTION INSIDE
The Art of Archery
Tips + Techniques to Sharpen your Skills
AUGUST 2016 • penSAcolAmAGAzine.com
ballingerpublishing.com
John Wheadon of Emil Frei & Associates painting St. Cecilia (a patron saint of music) on the new St. Michael’s stairwell window leading up to the choir loft, designed in the same manner as the original choir loft windows.
48 | pensacola magazine
The Soul of St. Michael’s An interview with John Wheadon, the artist behind the new and restored stained glass windows at St. Michael’s written by Dawn Gresko
I
f eyes are windows to the soul, then it’s no stretch to say actual windows often offer a glimpse into a structure’s soul or history. This is especially true of the new and restored stained glass windows at the Basilica of St. Michael’s, which were completed by the Emil Frei Firm of St. Louis in spring of this year. The firm was responsible for designing and producing the original set of church windows and, although the Bavarian-born Emil Frei was the original stained glass artist, St. Michael’s was able to enlist the help of John Wheadon—another talented artist and craftsman who has worked with the studio in one form or another since 2000. Although Wheadon began with very little experience in stained glass, he learned both craft and design aspects by shadowing artists in the studio who came before him, and today he is responsible for the creation of wonderful pieces like the beautiful stained-glass work at St. Michael’s. Pensacola Magazine spoke with the artist, who revealed his process and penchant for painting and crafting stained glass.
pensacola magazine | 49
The Soul of St. Michael’s
“
If you haven’t been to the church in person, you really should stop by. It’s really hard to duplicate the true appearance of stained glass in a photograph.” One of the sacristy windows, depicting a symbol of faith and hope: the Ark.
Tell us about yourself. I am a St. Louis native who discovered Emil Frei Stained Glass of St. Louis while pursuing a degree in Fine Arts at the University of Dallas. While in school I worked for Emil Frei during summer and winters, mostly as a craftsman for the next two years. I pursued other interests for two years after graduating, but eventually I decided to return to Emil Frei to work full time in 2004. When I began I had very little experience in stained glass. I had drafted and painted some designs for a professor who was a liturgical artist but nothing beyond that. It has been a very enjoyable experience, learning the trade and growing as an artist. I have done less fabricating of the stained glass windows in recent years, but I have spent a lot of time working on the craft side of things in my earlier years. That experience was incredibly valuable. As an artist, it is important to understand the possibilities and limitations of a material in order to become a good designer.
50 | pensacola magazine
Why choose leaded glass windows for the new church windows? We decided to make leaded glass windows for our new designs because we wanted the new windows to be in agreement with the original leaded glass windows and the church architecture. The parish is very proud of St. Michael’s history and we did not think it was appropriate to inject an entirely new material aesthetic. Leaded glass windows are created by cutting shapes out of sheets of stained glass into a pattern that pieces together. Then strips of extruded lead with a profile that looks like a capital letter “H” is nestled between each piece of glass and soldered together to make a stained glass window. There are many steps in between but those are the most essential parts in the process.
How does working with stained glass compare to other mediums for painting? Painting on stained glass is different in lots of ways. Perhaps the most significant way it is different is that I add very little color to the
stained glass. Stained glass is colored when it is made; long before I ever add a brush full of paint to it. The painting I do appears very dark because it mostly obscures areas of the glass and prevents light and color from passing through. It can be challenging at times to paint on stained glass because the paint does not absorb into the glass as it does in paper or canvas. The paint can be easily wiped away even after it has dried. If I accidentally touch a face or a hand that I am painting I might wipe away hours of work. On the other hand after the paint is kiln fired there is nothing I can do to remove it. So there isn’t a lot of room for mistakes. All that said, this same property has its advantages. Unlike paintings in other mediums, I can create marks by intentionally brushing away paint. So painting on glass is both additive and reductive.
What was the total number of windows you restored at the church, and how did you work to maintain the integrity of the original design? All of the existing stained glass windows received some degree of restoration (31 windows of different shape and size). We are able to maintain the integrity of the original design when restoring stained glass because we are using the same material and techniques as were used when these windows were made. (The techniques we used in restoration are exactly the same because those techniques have been handed down through the generations). When replacing broken pieces from the original hand-painted windows, highlyskilled artists in our studio will hand-paint new pieces in the exact same manner. When repairing broken lead joints we solder them back together in same way. We can even tarnish new work to make it look as though no corrections were ever made. It was important to maintain the style and painting techniques of the original windows when fabricating the new windows as well, so that the new windows felt like they could have always been there.
One of six new tower windows, featuring an abstraction of a boat floating on water. The crest in the middle of the window completes the image that recalls the words of Christ to Apostles Peter and Andrew, the words that he will make them “fishers of men.”
What new stained glass work did you complete for St. Michael’s and what images did they depict? We made six windows in the tower, two windows in the sacristy, and one in the stairwell up to the choir loft. Each tower window displays a crest from local, regional, or universal church leadership. If you study the windows for a moment you may notice that the design is an abstraction of a boat floating on water. The crest in the middle completes the image that recalls the words of Christ to the Apostles Peter and Andrew that he will make them “fishers of men.” The sacristy windows both depict symbols of faith and hope in the church, the Ark and an Anchor. The stairwell window was designed in the same manner as the original choir loft windows, and it depicts an image of St. Cecilia—a patron saint of music.
Guide us through your process for the restoration work, as well as the work you did for creating new stained glass. The windows at St. Michael’s were in relatively good condition in spite of their
The restored rose window of Saint Michael the Archangel, patron of Saint Michael parish + Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
age (we did a good job, when we put them together originally). The most noticeable change to the windows is from the window cleaning and the removal of the yellowed Lexan from the outside of the windows. The windows are noticeably brighter and more crystalline. We also repaired detached reinforcing bars, replaced previous bad repairs of stained glass, and did some repair to the lead where unsupported areas were allowing the windows to bulge. Restoration began in early January and finished in mid April. Our crew of craftsman stayed in Pensacola the entire time while they
repaired the windows and replaced the Lexan coverings with hurricane protection glass. The new windows took a little longer. Once the window designs were approved in December of 2015, a lot of steps in the process had to be completed before I was even able to begin painting. The windows took several weeks for artisans to cut into glass. Then I painted the windows full-time from early January of 2015 until May 2016. I had help from many artists and artisans in the studio along the way. As I finished painting, almost immediately someone else would assemble the stained glass panels. pensacola magazine | 51
modern Eclectic
When George and Liz Biggs moved back to their hometown from Atlanta, they knew they wanted to live in East Hill, where Liz grew up.
“I grew up right down the street and I went to Sacred Heart school, so we loved the neighborhood and the feel of it. We had been in Atlanta, in a big city, but in a really cool neighborhood where you could walk to the coffee shops and East Hill just felt like a diverse, fun neighborhood.” When Liz found the 1959 house on Blackshear Avenue, she knew it could be the perfect home, despite the 70s décor and the fact that it had been vacant for two years. “It was hard to see what was here because it was overgrown and it was a bit unkempt and outdated and even though it is very airy, it was dark,” says Liz. “Your average person would be a little bit intimidated by it. It was a time capsule. It hadn’t been touched since the 70s. It still had the turquoise shag carpeting on all of the stairs—they even had the
52 | pensacola magazine
shag carpeting buckled around them. There were cornice boards on all the windows with these heavy drapes and they were closed.” “It’s a typical progression, where they built it in the late 50s and then 20 years later they renovated it to whatever the style was at the time,” says George. “And then they aged and eventually couldn’t keep up with it as well.” Liz had the vision and George, a contractor, had the skills, so together they set about bringing the home back to its original 1950s glory. Designed in 1959 by local architect Roger Weeks, the modern home was originally inspired by the Bauhaus movement. The multi-levels, open spaces, soaring ceilings and angular lines all harken back to the modern movement. “In the ‘50s, a lot of people were doing ranch homes like in Cordova Park, but he was a lot more forward thinking,” says Liz. “For example, the open laundry room on a cove over the kitchen was quite innovative.”
Written by Kelly Oden Photography by Stephen Moody, Dunn Media
pensacola magazine | 53
Modern Eclectic
Kitchen & Dining
The adorable and functional kitchen retains the layout and aesthetic of its original design. “We redid the kitchen, but it’s basically the same layout it was—just modernized,” says George. “There was a pass through window to the dining room which was a feature that nobody would use anymore so we covered that up, but other than that, we didn’t change anything structural. The footprint is still the original layout.” Kay’s Kitchen did the remodel design and the couple chose high gloss laminate cabinets with metal trim for a look that both matched the era, but remained timeless as well. The hand tiled backsplash was created by a local artist Rob Hayes and features hidden images throughout the kitchen. 54 | pensacola magazine
The laundry loft overlooking the kitchen is truly unique feature of the home. “What is the most innovative for a 1950s house is the laundry loft,” says George. “Because the washer and dryer are usually in the basement, but from here Liz can see everything that’s going on. She can even see outside.”
sale. George stripped off the ashy green paint from the table and matching chairs to expose the blonde wood. The china cabinet is a Hayward Wakefield that the couple brought back from Atlanta. The light wood of the cabinet was the inspiration for the blonde wood throughout the home.
“It’s also fun when you have a party,” says Liz. “When we have a really big party everybody gathers in the kitchen and there’s not enough room, so some people can be up in the loft and they can still see everything and interact and you can even hand them a drink!”
The long horizontal cabinets are original, but the Biggs transformed the dark brown fronts to a light blonde to match the Haywood Wakefield cabinet. “The reason why that big counter is there beneath all of that light is that the woman who the house was built for was an artist,” says Liz. “So that’s where she did all of her painting and she wanted natural lighting. And those drawers are so large because she put her big canvases and all of her paint brushes and everything in there.”
For the Biggs, family meals are important and the family makes a point to eat together at least five or six nights a week. The table is a Herman Miller that Liz bought at an estate
While most of the light fixtures are original, George was able to salvage matching fixtures from the same era from homes that were going to be demolished. The well designed nook was added along with the addition and features half walls and gorgeous blonde wood cubbies that help hide the clutter of everyday life. “There’s a lot of stuff with six people,” says Liz. “So one of the things I wanted was a place for everything—a place for the bulletin board and all the papers and stuff that comes in.” The half walls allow for a lot of natural light while keeping the clutter well hidden. Each family member has their own cubby and there is additional storage for household goods. The spiral staircase leading to the master addition is capped with a large skylight. Fabricated by Brownsville Ornamental Welding, the staircase was built and installed in one piece. The steps are much wider than your average spiral, which makes them easier to climb, especially when carrying laundry or moving furniture.
pensacola magazine | 55
modern eclectic
living areas The large living area boasts original Terrazzo floors and a 1910 Steinway Grand Piano, which is a family heirloom of George’s family. Much of the art that adorns the walls in the home came from Ann Morley, a local artist also known as Frantic who also happens to be a relative of George’s. Ann loved the Biggs home and would often gift them art. “It fills you with joy,” says Liz. “Because you know she painted it and gave it with love.” The custom table in the living room was created by an Atlanta ceramics artist and the custom media cabinets were built to match the blonde wood color that the couple loves. The unique stairs were originally designed as hanging or floating stairs, but the Biggs added an extra bar for safety when they had little ones running around the house. The large white sectional is big enough for the entire family to hang out and watch a movie and the theatrical drapes block out both light and noise. The glass doors open completely, allowing the patio to become a part of the home. 56 | pensacola magazine
The couple describes their style as modern eclectic, but friends have described it as psychedelic-busy retro and as Andy Warhol’s Beach House.
pensacola magazine | 57
modern eclectic
BED & BATH When the Biggs were expecting their fourth child, they realized they were running out of room, so they started working on an open and airy master suite addition. “We did not want to move,” says George. “We weren’t going to move. We will be here forever. So, we had an area of the property that was not used much at all. We had local architect Robert Heffernan design an addition and I started building it. He was able to design to where that area would stay closed and it was outside, so we lived here during construction, but it didn’t affect us terribly. And we built it for us. Because the only thing the house was missing was a large modern bath and closet.” Alpha Closets installed the large walk in closet with his and her sides, a granite topped island and even skylights. The master bedroom matches the couple’s minimalist leanings and features large windows, a soaring ceiling, exposed structural beams and a vintage armoire.
58 | pensacola magazine
The master bath was tiled in vintage glass tile from the 50s that George found at Angelini Tile. The tile was overstock from what was originally installed on the exterior of the Riviera condos on Bayshore Drive and had been sitting in Angelini’s attic ever since. The use of vintage tiles really ties the addition in with the rest of the house because the original bathrooms still contain all original tile and most fixtures. The master bath also features a dual headed walk in shower, a large jetted tub and outlets installed within the cabinet drawers so that hair dryers and other appliance are always plugged in and can be conveniently dropped back in the drawer after use.
pensacola magazine | 59
modern eclectic
OUTDOOR SPACES The exterior of the home is a study in angles and features a raised and covered outdoor kitchen complete with gas grill fridge and a television for gamewatching. The large front patio can become part of the living space when the glass doors are opened completely. One very interesting feature of the Biggs’ home are the 28 solar panels that were installed on the roof five years ago. They took advantage of the Gulf Power and federal tax rebates being offered at the time. The solar panels, large and plentiful windows and use of natural gas keep the Biggs electric bill extremely low. “We’ve got eight tons of air conditioning, refrigerators, and the washer and dryer that run all day,” says George. “Our electric bill is typically under $100. Actually, our lowest ever was $24.”
60 | pensacola magazine
Play / Live / Give OCT 14
Frederic Brenner: Icon Series at PMA Experience a series of black-and-white portraits shot by internationally acclaimed French photographer Frederic Brenner, whose work will be featured at Pensacola Museum of Art (PMA) through December. This series represents famous American Jews photographed by the artist at Ellis Island depicting icons such as Roy Lichtenstein (artist), Betty Friedan (feminist writer and activist), Dr. Ruth Wertheimer (sex therapist), Arthur Miller (playwright), Ralph Lauren (designer), and many more. Brenner has been chronicling the Jewish Diaspora in more than 40 countries on five continents and this series of over 40 portraits pays homeage to the American chapter of his journey. Previously, Brenner has exhibited at institutions such as The Brooklyn Museum of Art, Norton Museum of Art, the International Center for Photography, Howard Greenberg Gallery, Tel Aviv Museum of Art and the United Nations. The opening reception will take place Friday, Oct. 14 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. Learn more at pensacolamuseum.org.
OCT Third Annual Rat Race 8
It’s official! The Third Annual Rat Race 5K to benefit the Council on Aging of West Florida is taking to the streets of Downtown Pensacola on Saturday, Oct. 8, starting at 8:30 am. The race starts and finishes at William Bartram Memorial Park with an after-race party and celebration at The Fish House. Packet pick up will be Oct. 7 between noon and 6 pm at Anytime Fitness in Downtown Pensacola, as well as on race day from 7 to 8 am. For more details, or to register for the race, please visit coawfla.org/ratpackreunion.
OCT Brush Strokes &
10 Kaleidoscopes at Quayside
Enter the wonderful world of Brush Strokes & Kaleidoscopes, featuring three of Quayside’s artists: Marianne McDonald, Diane Goeller, and Cathy Painter. Delve into McDonald’s paintings, which entice the viewer to travel into a place of marine wonder that shows the artist’s appreciation and knowledge of her coastal home. Goeller’s works range from traditional to nonobjective (her true love), and she has designed many of our Pensacola Pelicans. Painter is a stained glass artist specializing in creating one-of-a-kind kaleidoscopes using precious stones, crystals, hand-blown marbles, and any unique item she
62 | pensacola magazine
can find. For more information, visit quaysidegallery.com.
OCT Toast of the Coasts: 13 Napa vs. Sonoma
Master (Andrew) McNamara is back by popular demand, joining the Fish House this year to present the history and differences in the two regions of Napa and Sonoma, along with what the two regions have meant to the US wine industry, for Napa vs. Sonoma on Thursday, Oct. 13. McNamara is the director of fine wine and master sommelier for Breakthru Beverage Company and in 2015 McNamara was elected Chairman of the Board for the Court of Master Sommeliers. The evening with McNamara will feature four courses all paired with complementary wines: the first course will feature Napa Valley White with Upside Frutti di Mare, the second will be Sonoma County White paired with terrine of smoked grouper, while the third course of rustic, slow-cooked duck confit casserole will be paired with Napa Valley Red, and the final course will be blackberry sirloin paired with Sonoma County Red. The cost is $65 per person and the event begins at 5:30 pm. For reservations, please call 850-433-9450.
OCT 24-Hour Theatre 15 at PLT
Are you prepared for another exciting round of “hurry-up theatre”? Pensacola Little Theatre (PLT) sure is, and they’re bringing 24-Hour Theatre back to the stage on Saturday, Oct. 15 when the show starts at 7:30 pm. The show quite literally is built and takes place within the span of 24 hours, during which actors audition Friday night, writers write through the night, then directors and cast build a show all-day Saturday—that’s 24 hours culminating in fun and funny stories for the audience. Tickets are $10 per person and you may find out more by visiting pensacolalittletheatre.com.
OCT Antique and
16–17 Collectibles Exhibit
If you’re heading out to the fair grounds, don’t miss out on browsing the unique Antique and Collectible Exhibit at Pensacola Interstate Fair on Oct. 16 from 1 to 5 pm and Oct. 17 from 9 am to 1 pm. Appraisals are completed Oct. 17 and judging takes place the morning of Oct. 18 when items are selected for ribbon prizes: first place wins $60, second wins $40, and third gets $20. Feel free to enter some of your own collectibles and antiques in the exhibit by contacting Martha Krehely at 850-456-3731 or mlkrehely@aol.com.
Play / Live / Give OCT Save the Third for
19 Chef Irv: Gulf Coast Classics
Join Chef Irv of Jackson’s Steakhouse as he walks you through some of his favorite Gulf Coast dishes in his cooking demonstration for Gulf Coast Classics on Wednesday, Oct. 19. His regional dishes include ingredients he has enjoyed and found to be remarkable as both traditional and nontraditional Southern foods. Chef Irv will share details on how to prepare local ingredients and showcase recipes in a four-course sampling, including some of his favorite seafood and vegetables provided by Maria’s Seafood, as well as other small growers and farmers local to the waters of our very own section of the Gulf of Mexico. His dishes will include but are not limited to: seafood from the Gulf, small-batch artisanal cheeses, along with locallyraised pork, lamb, honey and eggs. Reservations are $45 per person and you can make yours today by calling 850-217-2347.
OCT Rat Pack Reunion 21 2016
It’s that time again: Rat Pack Reunion is back and coming to New World Landing this year on the evening of Friday, Oct. 21, from 5:30 to 11 pm. This year’s honorees are DeeDee Davis, Joe Durant, Sheriff David Morgan, and Ray Russenberger—all fine individuals who have led the way in the Pensacola community. Tickets are $100 per person and include access s to event, open bar, a fine three-course meal and much more! Please visit coawfla.org/ ratpackreunion for more information
Following the theme of Halloween, and keeping in line with the current the political season, “Friends of Loblolly” are happy to present Fame and Fortuna: An Original Political Musical Grotesque! from Oct. 27 to 29 with shows starting at 8 pm inside The Opera Center (75 S. Tarragona St.) Fame and Fortuna is an original satirical work with songs and scenes written and composed by members of the former Loblolly Theatre. This is the 12th in a series of “Fortuna” Halloween shows written by the Loblolly Theatre. Each one has focused on a mythic subject such as a film morgue, the Bermuda Triangle, the London plague, or something relative to fortune such as Tea for Two-na or Will Work for Tuna. This year’s production takes aim at the political landscape, where many are seeking “fame” even in the presence of the everpresent goddess Fortuna. Admission is $15 per person, and for reservations you may call 850-479-4530.
OCT Pursue Your Passion
21 Conference presented by Powerful Women of the Gulf Coast
Powerful Women of the Gulf Coast (PWGC) invites local business and professional women to register for the Fourth Annual Pursue Your Passion Conference on Friday, Oct. 21 from 10 am to 4 pm at Sanders Beach-Corinne Jones Resource Center near Downtown Pensacola. For the main event Dr. Lusharon Wiley will guide attendees throughout the day with her own sense of style. A full lunch, refreshments, and several snack breaks will be provided. Registration is open to women only and prices are $65 per person, which will increase closer to the event (to $100 per person the day of ). Find out more, or register now, by visiting powerfulwomengulfcoast.com.
OCT Keb’ Mo’ at Saenger 19 Theatre
As a singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, producer, actor, mentor and consistently excellent performer, Keb’ Mo’ is a true American idol you can experience in concert at Saenger Theatre on the evening of Wednesday, Oct. 19. Although you might best know Keb’ Mo’ as the voice behind the theme song of the hit comedy show, “Mike and Molly,” the award-winning artist has garnered three Grammy awards and a Grammy Certificate for his track on the 2001 Country Album of the Year—Timeless. He’s received an additional eight Grammy nominations, including Country Song of the Year for “I Hope,” which he co-wrote with The Dixie Chicks, and three alone for his 2014 release, BLUESAmericana. That’s not to mention his 11 Blues Foundation awards and six BMI awards, five of which are from his theme song for “Mike and Molly.” Don’t miss your chance to see one of the most versatile and engaging musical raconteurs on today’s roots, rock and blues scene. Tickets range $29.50 to $79.50 and you can reserve your seats now by visiting pensacolasaenger.com.
OCT Friends of Loblolly 27–29 present: Fame and Fortuna
OCT Barktoberfest 22
Treat your furry friend to the “pawsome” Barktoberfest, returning to Seville Square and Fountain Park on Saturday, Oct. 22 from 9 am to 4 pm. The pet-friendly event, hosted by the Pensacola Humane Society, has become the most anticipated celebration of the year for dog lovers. Discounted rabies vaccinations and microchips will be available, and animal rescue organizations will be on hand with adoptable dogs. All proceeds go to enforce the Humane Society’s mission to make a difference in the lives of homeless animals and address animal welfare issues in the community. For more information, please visit pensacolahumane.org.
OCT Paws on Palafox 29
What better way to spend an autumn morning than on a walk with your canine pal and a thousand other dog lovers and their furry friends? Join the folks at Pensacola Humane Society on Saturday, Oct. 29 for a fun 3K walk through the streets of Downtown Pensacola to help raise funds for the Humane Society’s shelter animals as well as the Barbara Grice Memorial Spay and Neuter Clinic. People and dogs of all ages are invited to attend; entry fees are $25 for ages 13 and over, $10 for children between ages 6 and 12, and free for children under the age of 5. The race starts and ends at Plaza de Luna, and you can look forward to music and fun at the finish line. The first 250 entrants will receive a free goody bag. Learn more and get your registration form online by visiting pensacolahumane.org.
pensacola magazine | 63
64 | pensacola magazine
Our Storied Past
Photo Courtesy of University of West Florida Collection
The Goldstucker Funeral Home
The Goldstucker Funeral Home was owned by brothers James and William Goldstucker. The funeral home was located at 34 North Tarragona from 1908 through 1910. In 1911 the business moved to 214 East Chase and remained at that address at least until 1942. Photograph circa 1910.
pensacola magazine | 65
66 | pensacola magazine
68 | pensacola magazine