DTC- March 2017

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PENSACOLA’S BIGGEST PARTY RETURNS! PG 17

la o c a s n e P to s e m o C a r e p The Controversial O

T PATRICK’S DAY IN SA s It’ d Go k an Th | s et re CICLOVÍA: Wide Open St ow COLLECT: A Palafox Pop-up Sh

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Downtown Crowd | March 2017

Editor’s Letter 10 7

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contents 5 St. Patty’s Day Happenings 7 Ciclovia: Wide Open Streets 9 A Palafox Popup Art Show 10 Meet the Cast of “Dead Man Walking” 15 Q+A with Chizuko’s Owners 17 Cabaret: Experience the Spectrum 18 Film and Albums 20 Dateline Downtown 2 | DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM

’ve officially given up hope for any sort of winter (or uplifting political news) and have fully accepted the fact that spring is already here.

Camellias, azaleas and wisteria are already in bloom throughout neighborhoods across town, reminding me that in just a few months, I’ll be wiping the sweat off my upper lip as summer sets in.

March is a beautiful time of year for the climate of Pensacola, and also for entertainment. Dozens of shows are lined up each weekend at the Saenger, The Penascola Little Theater, and Vinyl Music Hall. We talked with several members from the Pensacola Opera prior to their controversial performance of “Dead Man Walking,” on page 10. If you’re thinking of seeing the show, take a look at what the cast members think is so important about this particular piece and what keeps them going when the times get hard in show business.

St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner and we’ve collected a list of some of our favorite Irish events around town— i.e. our favorite places to drink a Guinness and toast to the Patron Saint of Ireland. Look

Owners Malcolm & Glenys Ballinger Executive Editor Kelly Oden Editor Hana Frenette Art Director Guy Stevens

Hana Frenette editor

I

Publisher Malcolm Ballinger

Graphic Design and Ad Coordination Anna Hitchcock

for the full list of St. Patty’s happenings on page 5.

Another event we focused on this month is Ciclovia—meaning “cycleway” in Spanish. It’s an outdoor bicycle, skating, and walking event that originally came to the states from Columbia. To find out how to participate, flip over to page 7.

Last but not least, don’t forget about Gallery Night.

This month will feature lots of new artists and collaborations around town. We spoke with Alexis Leader from Leader Art Consultants about her pop-up exhibit on March 17 in the old Dollarhides space on Palafox.

Check it out on page 9.

Once you’ve taken in all the art you can see, head over to Chizuko, the newest bar/ restaurant/show space in Belmont-Devilliers. We talked to the bar owners Daisy and Jess about why they wanted to open their own place and what it’s like navigating a business as a couple, all on page 15. See you there!

Editorial Assistant Tanner Yea Editorial Intern Haley Weaver Advertising Account Executives Paula Rode paula@ballingerpublishing.com Geneva Strange geneva@ballingerpublishing.com Deadline for space and information is the 15th of the month prior to publication.

For advertising rates or news tips contact Phone: 433-1166 · Fax: 435-9174 DOWNTOWN CROWD is published by Ballinger Publishing.

Offices located at 314 N Spring St., Ste. A, Pensacola Florida 32501 Published by Ballinger Publishing

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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.

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St. Patty’s Day Happenings

BY HALEY WEAVER

W

hat was originally a holiday to honor Saint Patrick and provide a day-long relief from Lent, is now a hyped-up celebration of taking a break from life and letting loose in your best green t-shirt.

Friday, March 17 is St. Patrick’s Day this year, and whether you subscribe to the more traditional observance or look forward to an influx of booze and lighthearted fun, there’s something for everyone in Pensacola this St. Patrick’s Day season.

O’Riley’s Grog March (Downtown) Though it’s a few weeks before St. Patrick’s Day, the 2nd Annual O’Riley’s Downtown Pensacola Grog March is a perfect way to get in the celebratory spirit. Think of it as a pre-game pub crawl to get ready for the extravaganza that is St. Patrick’s Day. On Saturday, March 4, head to O’Riley’s Irish Pub downtown in your best St. Patrick’s garb (green, of course) from 4 to 11 pm.

The entry fee is any two non-perishable food items to donate to Manna Food Pantries. From O’Riley’s, you’ll “crawl” to Seville Quarter, Hopjacks Pizza

all proceeds from t-shirts purchased during “Irish on the island” will be donated directly to covenant care Kitchen & Taproom, World of Beer, and then a brief intermission before circling back around to O’Riley’s. Entry includes a t-shirt while supplies last and a passport with the opportunity to be entered in a raffle at the end of the night.

McGuire’s Fun Run Before the actual St. Patrick’s Day festivities begin, you will have the opportunity to get your run on in the 40th Annual McGuire’s St. Patrick’s Day Prediction 5K Run on Saturday, March 11 at 9 am. You’ll meet at McGuire’s Irish Pub downtown to run the 5K certified course (3.1 miles) and you must be able to run or walk 3.1 miles in under one hour because the course will open to traffic at 10 am. Stragglers will be picked up by the McGuire’s bus. The cost to run/walk is $30 and covers not only your participation but the party

afterwards: live entertainment, Irish Fare, Irish Wakes, and more! Winning is relatively simple: you predict how long it will take to complete the course, turn in your prediction and the runner closest to their prediction wins. Registration ends March 9, so if you’re interested, jump on this opportunity online at runsignup.com/Race/FL/Pensacola/ McGuiresStPatricksDayPrediction5KRun. O’Riley’s (Creighton) For day-of celebrating, this pub is a fun place to be. Not to be confused with the O’Riley’s Downtown, the O’Riley’s pub on Creighton Road will host a tented street party on Friday, March 17. It will feature contests, special drinks such as $3 green Bud Light aluminums and car bombs, fish & chips, games like giant jenga and beer pong, and even jello wrestling. If you’re looking for a wild time, this is the place

because the festivities will take place from 11 am to 3 am March 18. Must be 18+ to attend.

Irish on the Island It isn’t a St. Patrick’s Day celebration without a good ol’ pub crawl on the beach! Head down to Crabs We Got ‘Em on Friday, March 17 at 10:30 am to start off the day. From there you’ll “crawl” to the Holiday Inn Resort, Paddy O’Leary’s Irish Pub, Paradise Bar & Grill, Flounders Chowder House, The Dock, The Sandbar, Shaggy’s Bar & Grill, Bamboo Willie’s (where there’ll be a bikini contest), finishing out at The Sandshaker Lounge & Package at 5:45 pm. In addition to the celebration of Irish culture and tradition, the pub crawl will benefit Covenant Care.

T-shirts will be available for $12 at each stop on the crawl and the proceeds will go directly to charity.

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CICLOVÍA: wide open streets

by Tanner Yea Among the hills and valleys of Colombia’s capital city of Bogotá, people bike, skateboard, rollerskate, and walk car-less streets every Sunday in an event called Ciclovía. Meaning ‘cycleway’ in Spanish, Ciclovía is an event that started in 1974 in Bogotá to allow people to enjoy activities, exercise and more in the wide city streets, without vehicles.

On March 25, the Ciclovía tradition continues in downtown Pensacola with CiclovÍa Open Streets—an event designed to open the streets to foot traffic and get people moving. Pensacola joins a long list of worldwide cities who have held the event, including Los Angeles, Brussels, Miami and Delhi.

From 9 am to 2 pm, Main Street will close to traffic from Gulf Power to Maritime Park, and Palafox Street will close from the pier to Garden Street.

Instead of cars, these streets will contain open foot traffic, food trucks, activity tents, urban ‘parklet’ greenspaces, Zumba classes and more. This will all be in an effort to build a stronger, more active community within Pensacola.

Sally Rosendahl is the Volunteer Founder of the event, and said she originally got the idea from attending a Ciclovía event in Panama City, Panama.

“It has grown now into a worldwide event almost exclusively through grassroots movements,” said Rosendahl. “Someone goes to one and comes back, saying ‘we need to have one in our city’—which is what actually happened to me.”

The event is being sponsored by local and state organizations, including the

Department of Health, LiveWell Northwest Florida, UWF, the UWF Historic Trust, Pensacola Parks and Recreation, Human Healthcare, Visit Pensacola and the West Florida Regional Planning Council. Local business such as CycleSports and Waterboyz are also supporting the event, offering repair services, workshops and information.

The physical activity aspect of the event is also important. Rosendahl said that in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, six out of 10 residents are overweight, while three out of 10 are obese. According to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation —an organization which offers health grants and program—Escambia ranks 55 out of Florida’s 67 counties for quality of life and longevity.

“We’ll be set up at the Wahoo’s stadium parking lot with some ramps and rails,” said Sean Fell, founder of Waterboyz.

“We’ll have info on our summer camps and the new skatepark.”

“I hope people who go to this event realize that exercise is something that’s been missing in their lives,” said Brian Stone, co-owner of CycleSports. One of the local bike shops sponsoring the event, CycleSports is helping provide minor repairs and maintenance for bikes during Open Streets. “I do feel there is a growing demand in Pensacola for promoting a quality of life culture.”

Ciclovía Open Streets will be the largest street closure in the city’s history, and will serve as a way to open up the community to foot traffic and enable the city to be more active. Despite its beginnings as a mainly bike-oriented event, it is open to anyone—skaters, rollerbladers and even just walkers.

“The theme is community. We encourage people to wear t-shirts that tie them to the community,” said Rosendahl.

“We want a sea of UWF shirts, Baptist Hospital shirts—anything that ties you to the community.”

Rosendahl said that Pensacola is joining a long list of cities that are beginning to look at their streets with a different set of eyes. City streets take up massive amounts of physical space, and Ciclovia Open Streets is meant to change the idea that they are only meant to be driven on.

“Streets are for people, too,” she said.

According to Rosendahl, they hope the success of this event fuels more Ciclovia Open Streets, with the goal eventually being to have similar events on a monthly basis. The economic, cultural and health impact is set to benefit not just the Ciclovía Open Streets attendees, but the city as a whole.

Pensacola Ciclovía Open Streets is on March 25, from 9 am to 2 pm, and is located along Main and Palafox Streets.

Admission to the event is free. For more information, visit pensacolaopenstreets. com.

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indescribable. It’s one of the many reasons I am proud to serve on their board of directors and support this organization.

Can you tell me a little bit about the work of each of the artists who are participating?

The “Collect” exhibition layout is inspired by national fairs such as Art Miami and the Affordable Art Fair and aims to appeal to collectors and art enthusiasts. The artists selected represent LACs network of Gulf Coast artists and range in media from painting, sculpture, glass, photography and print. Among the many works included are paintings by Ursula Mahlar, Steve Wagner and Pat Regan, original prints and relief sculptures by Michael Boles, glass by Joe Hobbs and photography by Vivian Spencer. The PopUp provides a relaxed environment for budding and seasoned collectors to discover and acquire a variety of work created by emerging and established regional artists. The majority of all featured artists will be in attendance at the opening reception enabling collectors to make real connections with the artists.

Unlike traditional gallery shows, the artwork within “Collect” will be available for immediate purchase. Sold works will be replaced with new work so that the exhibit continues to evolve throughout the course of the PopUp.

Steve Wagner, “Alignment,” oil on canvas.

Poppin’ Up all over town

By Hana Frenette

Alexis Leader launched her art consulting company, Leader Art Consultants, last winter and has jumped into the downtown art scene head first, holding pop-up exhibits during Gallery Night and welcoming the public into her curated temporary show spaces. The pop-up shows allow the community to experience art in public and open spaces, as opposed to the traditional gallery or museum setting. Leader will host a pop-up show from March 17-25, to benefit First City Art Center. The show is entitled “Collect” and features diverse collections of work from three local artists.

Is this the first popup show you’ve hosted? If not, what others have you hosted recently?

This is our second PopUp Gallery. Our first was a 3-day PopUp that opened downtown during the December Gallery Night at One51Main, sponsored by Beck Partners.

Why did you choose to donate the benefits to First City Art Center? Do you plan to donate to other art programs and organizations in the future or is this a special instance?

I’ve spent my career working and volunteering at nonprofit organizations and museums. I’ve learned firsthand the impact even the simplest gesture, such as a donation or marketing opportunity, can create. Working with arts-based nonprofits in the area is something that I have been passionate about from the start of LAC. My hope in partnering with First City Art Center for this event is to showcase the organization and its range of programming that they offer the community. The value of Pensacola having a working art center that can inspire and teach everything from glass and pottery to the visual arts is

How did you go about selecting the location for this popup shop and what are some of the criteria you look for when planning one of these shows?

Traditionally we look for business owners within the community who support the arts and have access to an unused commercial space. It has been exciting to transform nontraditional spaces into temporary galleries. We have been incredibly fortunate to work previously with Justin Beck of Beck Partners and currently with Bobby Switzer of One Palafox Place.

Anyone interested in becoming a gallery sponsor by lending temporary space is encouraged to contact Director Alexis Leader at alexis@leaderfineart.com for information and 2017 sponsorship details.

Michael Boles, “Helical Angel,” aluminum, copper,PVC, acrylic, hemitite.

Do these shows need to be handled differently as far as set up or anything goes, because they are not up for long periods of time?

The nature of a PopUp is fast-paced in comparison to a traditional gallery or museum exhibition. I think that is what lends the exhibits their energy and appeal. It’s temporary. You can’t see one of our ads or postcards and think, “That looks fantastic. I’ll stop by sometime later this month to check it out.” We won’t be there. Our main office is located on Garden Street but it is not an art gallery. We operate out of a traditional office setting because the bulk of our consulting work is done on-site at offices, homes and artist studios. I love the concept of temporary galleries because it offers clients and new collectors the rare chance of seeing multiple works by LAC artists in person.

What do you like most about creating and installing popup shows like this one?

As this is only our second PopUp we are still in the experimental stage, which is exciting. We are constantly evolving our temporary galleries and receptions to see what connects and what doesn’t.

For example, the March event will be open to the public for nine days (March 17-25). This will be the longest we have held a space.

This opening reception will also mark our first time partnering with First City Art Center. The center will be on-hand throughout the evening of the opening reception performing live glass blowing demonstrations in front of the gallery entrance.

“Collect” Pop-up Show

Opening reception March 17, 5:30- 9 pm Show hours: March 17-25, 10 am to 6 pm 43 S. Palafox St., inside the former Dollarhides Music Center

Ursula Mahlar, “Chartreuse Skies,” acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas.

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ial Opera rs ve o tr n o C e h T f O t s a C e h T Q& A With

BY HANA FRENETTE a In 1993, Sister Helen Prejean, d Roman Catholic nun, release ead “D ed the non-fiction book, titl d Man Walking.” The book raise questions and furrowed brows across the world as readers followed Sister Helen on her to journey as a spiritual advisor a jailed murderer awaiting his execution.

Prejean has become a leading olition American advocate for the ab

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The Pensacola Opera will offer n two performances of “Dead Ma . The Walking” on March 17 and 19 s opera will include performance m fro from world- renowned singers ., New York City, Washington D.C s wa g,” lkin Wa n Ma ad In 1995, “De wntown n Pensacola, and Texas. Do —a 00 20 in d an , vie mo a o int made of the Crowd caught up with several tale out opera. Jake Heggie’s musical rformers to learn a little bit ab pe d an on pti em red , ict y of moral confl how they got their start, and wh the of e on me co be s ha s forgivenes ance is so ely they believe this perform wid d an al on oti em , lar pu po most es special and speaks to audienc performed operas in history. around the world.

n of the death penalty and bega speaking out against capital book’s punishment shortly after the release.

NaGuanda Nobles ROLE: Sister Rose

Where are you from?

Tallahassee, Florida Where do you reside?

Dallas, Texas How did you get into performing?

I grew up singing gospel music in church. From there, I joined the show choir in high school. I attended Florida State University’s summer music camp the summer leading up to my junior year in high school and was offered a full scholarship, if I wanted to pursue my career in music. When I graduated from high school, I accepted the full scholarship and majored in Voice Performance from FSU. I remained at FSU and went on to receive my Masters of Music in Voice Performance.

Tell me about your very first performance.

My very first professional performance was after I graduated with my MM in Voice Performance. I was accepted to the Austin Lyric Opera’s Young Artist program, where I performed the role of Sister Rose in a premiere of “Dead Man Walking.”

Tell me about the role and character you play in “Dead Man Walking.”

I play the role of Sister Rose in “Dead Man Walking.”

She is a nun and a very close friend to Sister Helen.

She is a very important part of Sister Helen’s journey to forgiveness.

What is special to you about this performance?

It’s always good to be invited back to perform with a company. I performed the role of Clara in Pensacola Opera’s 2005 production of “Porgy and Bess.” I also performed the role of Sister Rose last Spring with the Shreveport Opera, with Maestro Jerome Shannon and Dean Anthony, who are key figures in this 2017 production. To be reunited with the two of them at Pensacola is very rewarding.

What are some of the most challenging aspects to performing?

Staying healthy and making sure I am well rested. Some of the most rewarding? Sharing my gift with others and leaving the stage feeling accomplished knowing that I gave my all.

What are some of your favorite roles you’ve played?

Mimi from “La Boheme” would have to be the top of the list. I love everything Puccini and the depth of the character is extremely breathtaking. Others would include “Liu,” “Sister Rose,” and “Clara.”

Elise Quagliata

Role:Sister Helen Prejean dance!) but when I was 12 years old, my grandmother, who was also a singer, noticed my voice and started giving me voice lessons. Through high school I had wonderful, nurturing choir directors and family members who helped me hone my skills. In college I discovered opera, and I was hooked!

Tell me about your very first performance.

My first opera was Offenbach’s “Les contes d’Hoffmann” at age 18 at the University of Connecticut. I was in the chorus, and I loved seeing the importance of acting, singing, and movement.

Where are you from?

I grew up in New York City and have been living in New Jersey.

Where do you reside?

Right now we live where my contracts are. My husband and daughter are on the road with me, which is really fun!

How did you get into performing?

I was a dancer my whole childhood (and continue to

Tell me about the role and character you play in “Dead Man Walking.”

I play Sister Helen Prejean, author of the book. This story shows us the beginning of Sister Helen’s journey and how she came to answer the important questions regarding capital punishment and forgiveness. The audience comes on this journey with me, and also ask themselves these important questions.

What is special to you about this performance?

This is my fifth production of “Dead Man Walking.”

Pensacola is a very important opera house to me. I’m so lucky to be performing it here. I’ve been fortunate

to spend time with Helen personally and really get to know her as a person, not just this amazing saint among humans. She and I lived together in Chicago for one week with my 3 month old daughter. Helen was kind and generous and helpful with my screaming baby, and seeing her so intimately allowed me to see how she walks, laughs, eats, reflects, jokes, talks...nothing can inform a character than those personal interactions. I’ve also gotten to perform with Jake Heggie, our composer, quite often, so I feel I understand his musical language.

What are some of your favorite roles you’ve played?

I love singing “Carmen,” Mrs. Lovett in “Sweeney Todd,” and Jo in “Little Women.” All roles I’ve performed with Pensacola Opera!

What are some of the most challenging aspects to performing? Some of the most rewarding?

The most rewarding thing is getting to do what I do best every day and sharing these amazing works with so many supportive opera lovers.

The most challenging is the travel. Opera singers travel all over the country (and world), and being away from family is so hard. My daughter has been traveling with me from the beginning and this is her thirty second gig with me. But it can be hard being on the road so much.

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john riesen

Role: howard boucher

Where are you from?

Originally from upstate New York, my family ended up just outside of Detroit, MI in a city called Westland.

Where do you reside?

I have been “living out of a suitcase” for the past year, but will be moving to Lansing, MI with my soon-to-be wife, Gillian Lynn Cotter (who is also in this production, as Jade Boucher, my wife in the show.)

How did you get into performing?

This is a complicated story. I was an avid baseball player, receiving All-Region and All-State Academic merits in pitching and baseball. I went to college at Michigan State University originally with hopes to play ball. My grandmother had been sending my family money so that my older sister could take clarinet lessons, and so my parents felt that perhaps I too should take some form of musical lessons (to make me a more well-rounded individual). Oddly enough, my mother chose voice lessons because I was the only person in my family who couldn’t carry a tune. My sister had perfect pitch, as did my little brother. My father played piano and organ, and my mother sang and played cello in college. Then there was me: the baseball player. I was nervous to try voice lessons, but with my parents encouragement I gave it a try. In the lessons I quickly learned how to match pitch, and my voice began to grow. It wasn’t too different from pitching (outside of the actually throwing part, ha!)

Imagine it: You are isolated, being stared at to complete a nerve-racking arduous task with the utmost precision that revolves all around exerting high levels of energy, while remaining aware of your limits. Breathing is key.

Sounds eerily familiar. Eventually I was encouraged to

audition for MSU, and I did. They offered me a significant scholarship to become a Voice Performance major. My parents encouraged me to try this new path, and the rest has become history.

Tell me about the role and character you play in “Dead Man Walking.”

I am playing Howard Boucher, the father of one of the murdered children. He is married to Jade, and represents one of the real oppositions to Sister Helens mission for saving Joseph De Rocher. She is trying to help the, “monster who killed my boy!”

What is special to you about this performance?

I have had the pleasure of being in “Dead Man Walking” one other time, playing the role of Father Greenville (with Maestro Shannon at Shreveport Opera). I must say that this Opera is the most life changing, and inspiring operatic story I have ever come across. Most people think that it stands for or against the death penalty. That is NOT the case. This story tells Sister Helens journey of mercy and acceptance of this grievous crime, and the journey and eventual confession and apology of the criminal himself before his death.

hanan taraby

Role: mrs. patrick de rocher Where are you from? Beautiful Pensacola.

How did you get into performing?

My whole life has been surrounded by the performing arts. I don’t know anything different. When I was younger I was a ballerina, I was part of the Pensacola Children’s Chorus. I took violin, piano, and voice lessons. So performing just came with the territory.

Oh, I just loved it all!

Tell me about your very first professional performance.

I was asked to sing Anita from “West Side Story” by Leonard Bernstein at the Teatro Regio in Turin, Italy. Oh that was a glorious experience! I was singing alongside colleagues who are now leading sopranos and tenors of our generation in the opera world. The whole time I was thinking, “Am I dreaming? Have I really been asked to sing here, with these amazing people, on THIS stage?!”

What a surreal first time experience!. Amazing!

Tell me about your role in “Dead Man Walking.”

I will be playing the role of Mrs. Patrick De Rocher. The mother of the convicted murderer. This is definitely the most difficult role I have ever taken on. In this case,

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there are two sides to this story. Obviously, my role is challenging as I am on the side of the accused. The vocals are not the challenge for me. It’s the allowing myself to not be afraid to go down this very dark and traumatic road, acting wise. That is going to be the scary and challenging part. But I will allow myself to go there; I have to. I am an actor at the end of the day and that is just part of my job. I have to tell the story accurately. Thank God I can walk away from all of that at the end of the day and go back to my sweet family.

What is special to you about this performance?

Being able to just tell the story. And being able to hear and try to understand both sides to the story.

What are some of your favorite roles?

Favorite roles...hmm. I have a few, but I guess it would have to be Lucretia from “The Rape Of Lucretia” by Benjamin Britten. I’m smiling here because I’m quite sure the reason why that’s my favorite role is because I was playing opposite to my husband, Howard Reddy! Really though, the music is just dynamite!

What are some of the most challenging aspects to

performing? The most rewarding?

For me, the most challenging aspect to performing is making sure my character is completely real. Nothing can be fake. Even if you are doing the most ridiculous and silliest characters of them all, it has to be real for it to be believable. So a lot of character work is done on my part. The most thrilling part of performing is when the whole story comes alive! All that hard work you and your amazing colleagues have put in was totally worth it. We just then get to “play” for a couple of hours on a stage. How cool is that?!

Sheila MURPHY Dunn Role: kitty hart

Where are you from? Pensacola.

Where do you reside? Pensacola.

How did you get into performing?

I first got into performing during my time at Oberlin Conservatory of Music (BM) and Indiana University (MM and DM.) Tell me about your very first performance My first full-scale opera performace was Gounod’s “Romeo et Juliette” at Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Oberlin, Ohio. I played the trousers role (role of a man) of Stefano.

Tell me about the role and character you play in “Dead Man Walking.”

I play the role of Kitty Hart.

What is special to you about this performance?

This is a powerful piece based on a real life events.

The story is both heart-wrenching and moving.

What are some of your favorite roles you’ve played?

Susanna in Mozart’s “Le nozze di Figaro.”

What are some of the most challenging aspects to performing? Some of the most rewarding?

As performers, we strive for perfection. This is a constant struggle. The most rewarding aspect of performing is seeing the joy of the audience.

Nothing compares to performing for a live audience.

Michael Mayes

Role: Joseph de rocher to the songs. He was a tremendous influence on my musical career.

Where are from?

Cut and Shoot, Texas Where do you reside?

Lyons, CO How did you get into performing? I grew up singing in church. My grandfather was a missionary Baptist preacher, and my dad always encouraged me from a young age to sing in church. I grew up singing southern gospel, country and bluegrass music. My dad had a natural voice, and taught me how to sing harmony when I would ride along with him while he was working. He worked in the oil and gas industry on the pipelines, and drove around Texas all day long.

When I wasn’t in school, he’s let me ride along and we’d sing along with the radio, adding harmony parts

Tell me about your very first performance.

My first opera performance was as The Customs Official in “La Boheme.” A small one-liner role. I couldn’t read music when I got to college, I learned everything by earand my tradition was based in improvisation. I didn’t quite get the classical music way of doing things. I came in wrong over and over, and almost got fired. I just didn’t understand how to do it. Luckily, a coach at my college worked with me until I got it right. It was really humiliating for someone who was already an outsider to this art form. From then on, I dedicated myself to becoming as proficient as possible, and always being over prepared.

Tell me about the role and character you play in “Dead Man Walking.”

I play Joseph de Rocher, the condemned man for whom Sister Helen is spiritual advisor. This role is very close to my heart, in as much as I grew up around many similar kinds of young men. He is full of rage and anger, and seems to want to take it out on the entire world, especially those whom he sees as looking down on him. It’s a very challenging role emotionally, and one that has really changed the way I approach not only contemporary opera, but the traditional repertoire as well.

What is special to you about this performance?

This will be my 9th production, and 7th as Joseph.

For me, getting to do this role, in this city, at this time in our history, is simultaneously the most humbling and exciting opportunity I’ve ever had to portray him.

I’ve been in many different productions at Pensacola Opera, and have always enjoyed my time here.

Recently, Pensacola Opera has begun to program more contemporary pieces that speak directly to many of the cultural issues of our time. For me, there is no greater pleasure than singing in my own language to an American audience. I applaud PO for this dedication to new works, and am excited to be a part of their production of a piece that truly was one the early sparks of this current renaissance of new American opera.

What are some of the most challenging aspects to performing? Some of the most rewarding?

The most challenging aspect of this life is the time you must spend away from your family. I spend upwards of 10 months a year on the road sometimes.. for instance, I haven’t seen my front door since September, and won’t again until late March. That’s a very difficult life to lead, but well worth the sacrifice. Experiences like the one I outlined in the previous question are what drive me to keep growing as an artist. The first time I did “Dead Man Walking,” a woman from the audience contacted me— she began her comment with the usual things one hears in this job, about the performance, the singing, acting etc...then, she said, “My daughter was murdered 8 years ago, and this opera has changed the way I feel about the man who murdered her.” We are in the empathy business, and there is no greater ratification of the power of opera than that kind of experience.

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Quayside Art Gallery 17 E. Zarragossa Street, Pensacola, Florida 850-438-2363 www.quaysidegallery.com

Child of a Thousand Storks: A Q&A with Chizuko’s Owners

By Tanner Yea The once vibrant Belmont-DeVilliers Neighborhood has recently started to experience a renaissance. In the height of the early 20th century, Belmont-DeVilliers was home to Abe’s 506 Club, which was an important stop for African-American artists who couldn’t play elsewhere during segregation. As a part of the ‘Chitlin’ Circuit,’ it saw acts such as Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles and B.B. King.

The neighborhood as a whole started to decline in the late 70s, and the 506 Club closed after a final dance on New Year’s Eve in 1981. Its original location at 506 West Belmont was shuttered, and while places like UWF’s Innovation Institute and Five Sisters have helped revive Belmont-DeVilliers, Abe’s remained empty until recently.

Now, a small heartbeat is thumping again at 506 with the opening of Chizuko—a vegan restaurant, bar and show-space run by local entrepreneurs Daisy Doyle and Jess Laws.

Inside Chizuko (normally written with a lower-case ‘c’), smoky blue lighting evokes jazz and soul while pan-Asian vegan food and sake bring contemporary elements. An aging sign from the now closed Newton’s Bunny Club hangs above the concert room, a sign of respect for what 506 once was. Daisy and Jess sat down with Downtown Crowd to talk about Chizuko’s origins and what the future holds.

Why the name “chizuko?”

Daisy: The bar is named after my grandma, Chizuko Carlisle.

When did you first get the idea to open Chizuko?

Jess: We had always talked about going into business together. Chizuko was a concept that we had been working on for a while when we stumbled upon this building. We fell in love with the spot and signed the lease soon after.

What kind of events do you want Chizuko to host?

Daisy: All of them!

Jess: We are open to all types of events. We really want Chizuko to be a community space. We have Matt Pham booking our music and he is great at knowing what everyone wants to see and hear.

Why did you pick the location in Belmont-DeVilliers?

Was it due to its historic significance?

Jess: We were exploring the neighborhood one day when we saw the courtyard. We were like

Jess Laws and Daisy Doyle behind the bar at Chizuko, 506 W. Belmont St. “Dannnnnnng! Why isn’t anyone doing anything with this place?!” The location is absolutely perfect.

Daisy: The history was definitely a deciding factor, not to mention we live in the neighborhood and were missing a place to hang out. We are excited to be bringing some life back to BelmontDeVilliers and hope to bring more people to the area.

What challenges have you encountered so far?

Daisy: Our building hasn’t been occupied in about 20 years, so most of our challenges have been dealing with repairs. It’s teaching us to not stress about things that are out of our control.

Are you enjoying running a business together as a couple?

Jess: I love every minute of it! We met working together, and one of the reasons we opened Chizuko was to work together again. We are on the same page when it comes to business and creativity, so it makes it easy.

Daisy: It’s awesome because we get to be completely honest with each other when it comes to the business, and I completely trust any decision that Jess makes.

What goals do you have for Chizuko going forward?

Jess: We are definitely aiming high. Our next project is going to be to expand into the room next door and create a new show space. We have more ideas beyond that, but I don’t want to give too much away!

Daisy: We want Chizuko to always be evolving and to create the place that our customers want it to be. I’m really excited to watch it grow with the neighborhood and help contribute to the future of Belmont-DeVilliers. The parties have been so much fun so far, I can’t wait for many more!

Although Chizuko opened in January, they’ve already hosted multiple concerts, events and showcases—including live wall paintings, FemFest speakers and a special Valentine’s Day celebration. Jess and Daisy are constantly working to bring new events and ideas to Chizuko, and it shows.

Chizuko is located at 506 W Belmont St. and is open from Wednesday to Sunday, 5 pm to 2:30 am. To learn more, visit chizukopensacola.com or their Facebook page, @chizukopensacola.

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EXPERIENCE THE SPECTRUM

BY JENN COLE Get ready to color your world! Whether you prefer racy red, princely purple or heavenly white, the Pensacola Little Theater invites you to party in the spectrum at their premiere fundraiser event, Cabaret. Color Me Cabaret: Experience the Spectrum takes place on April 1. The community theatre goes all out for their annual event.

As you move from room to room, you’ll find surprises all around. Chocolate fountains, body painted ladies, live bands, spinning DJ’s and more—all under one roof for one vibrant evening.

as you dance the night away to the Rowdies Rock live band. Madrina Ciano is chairing the street party and she promises it will be ‘hot, hot, hot.’

If it gets too hot for you, take a walk through the pearly gates—a heavenly white room is just inside the doors. Listen to a soothing harp as angels move all around you while you enjoy sweet treats from the white chocolate fountain dessert table. Valerie Russenberger chairs this delicate masterpiece and she promises a place to enjoy a peaceful moment before you’re drawn into the courtroom by the sounds of doves crying.

The outside room promises to be one hell of a party. With a red color theme, a section of E. Zarragossa Street shuts down for the night. Play under the stars as your eyes take in the sizzling elements of love, sex, some playful sin and everything racy in between. Lounge in the Red Room where champagne flows freely. Tempt your taste buds with a sushi spread by Sake Café. Satisfy your sweet tooth with sensual red desserts.

Doves may cry, but jaws will drop as you enter the purple palace. Let’s go crazy! The courtroom is going purple in Princely fashion. An homage to the iconic signer awaits you with lights, music and videos. DJ Matt Powell will spin a tribute to Prince. If the lighted dance floor doesn’t change your world, you might want to try the ice block shots. You’ll also find Prince themed treats provided by Appetite for Life. The Prince Room is chaired

by Dave Clark and his daughter, Susan Clark.

When your belly is full, the Red Room offers a feast for your eyes. Roxie le Rouge, an artistic burlesque performer, will take the stage. The provocative performer hails from New Orleans and delivers a devilish act. She’ll make her moves and you can move on to the poker tables, where you might meet Lady Luck in the outside casino area.

Finally, the Red Room really heats up

The Prince party doesn’t stop at dancing, eating and drinking.

Look up and you’ll see Pure Aerial Performances’ aerialists Ashlyn Swafford and Kaitlyn Carroll hanging from the ceiling. And what would a PLT party be without a drag queen?

Bedlam’s Drag Queen Gappie Gee takes you for a walk on the wild side.

Did I mention the body painted ladies?

Doves will cry when you look in the gilded cages at these beauties. The royal treatment awaits you at PLT’s Cabaret. Be sure to make the most of the party by bringing plenty of green.

The party’s goal is to make money for the Pensacola Little Theater and the Cultural Center. Check out the atrium, where you’ll find one of the best silent auctions in town. Place your bid on a beach getaway, a priceless baseball pitch or a treasured piece of art. The PLT offers up plenty of party favors to bid on, from haircuts, to lunch with a celebrity, to a fine piece of jewelry.

There’s something for everyone at the silent auction.

Pensacola Cultural Center houses the Little Theater, the Pensacola Ballet, the

Cabaret is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Pensacola Little Theater.

It’s crucial to the survival of the oldest continually operating community theater in the Southeastern United States. Since 1936, the Little Theater has been a staple in Pensacola. It has changed homes a few times, finally settling as a hub for the performing arts in its current home in 1996. The building was once a jail, but now the

Make your plans to come to Cabaret!

April 1. Nope, I’m not fooling. It’s going to be one hell of a party. Doors open at 7 pm. Tickets are $75 and include your food and drinks. Come in your color themed outfits, sizzle in sparkles or throw on some jeans.

This party has no dress code, but you do have to be 21 years old to enter.

Hire the babysitter and come play in the PLT Cabaret spectrum.

West Florida Literary Federation and even a church. PLT’s theater is made up of thousands of volunteers, bringing quality community theater to all of us.

The theatre also offers acting, writing, and production classes. PLT is a hub for the creative, the fun, the adventuresome. On one night a year, PLT lets it hair down and throws a massive party. You don’t want to miss it. This is the Pensacola event everyone will be talking about.

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

By Tanner Yea

SABAN’S POWER RANGERS RELEASE DATE: March 24 CAST: Dacre Montgomery, Naomi Scott, RJ Cyler, Becky G, Ludi Lin, Bill Hader, Bryan Cranston, Elizabeth Banks What I got from the preview: Zordon (Cranston) sends Alpha (Hader) to recruit five teenagers with attitude (Montgomery, Scott, Cyler, G, Lin) in order to combat the forces of Rita Repulsa (Banks). A classic sentai series gets a gritty reboot and a PG13 rating – they even say ‘ass’ in the trailer.

The visuals look flashy, the action looks explosive, and it seems to run with tongue-incheek references of the series of old – like how their Ranger colors used to, unfortunately, usually match the actor’s skin color.

Unqualified critical observation: Holy hell I’m so stoked on this. Growing up I loved Power Rangers, and in my attic somewhere is a bin full of countless Megazords, playsets and a Halloween costume or two.

This reboot seems like it is aimed directly at me: someone who grew up with Power Rangers and remembers them being larger than life. Though the director, Dean Israelite, is a newbie, the writer John Gatins has a good reputation for writing big, dumb action movies. I’m tentatively hopeful that this will surpass the 1995 movie, which was the highest form of art for me as a youngster.

T2 TRAINSPOTTING RELEASE DATE: March 17 CAST: Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Johnny Lee Miller, Robert Carlyle What I got from the preview: Mark Renton (McGregor) returns to his home in Edinburgh after escaping skid row 20 years ago, only to find his old friends Spud (Bremner), Sick Boy (Miller) and Franco (Carlyle) are still up to their old ways. The movie seems like an elaboration of the first – more drugs, more fights, more running, more death and an overall message of enjoy life while you can. Everyone looks old and strung out, and Edinburgh still looks scuzzy.

MUSIC: What our staff is listening to this month King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Flying Microtonal Banana Hana’s pick: Even just saying the name of the band out loud is fun. This Australian psych-rock band is all about letting their freak flag fly—whether that’s singing about rattlesnakes, scientific fruit or laying down some extended melodies over 70s era Nigerian rhythms—they find a way to make it feel laid back, yet energetic. The echoey vocals laid atop the wild and rambling harmonicas, fuzzy guitar sounds and accessible chorus remind me of the first few Gizzard albums I heard, proving time hasn’t affected their approach, their sound, or the level of strangeness they enjoy incorporating into their lyrics. This is one of five albums the band plans to release this year—here’s hoping they all relate back to fruit.

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Unqualified critical observation: The first Trainspotting wasn’t a formative movie for me, but I saw it when I needed to – when I was in college, alone and disillusioned. People remember Trainspotting for visceral scenes like the toilet and the dead child as signs of what it was like to live at the bottom, but there was always an underlying hopeful message I felt. Everyone is back on the film: Danny Boyle as director, John Hodge as screenwriter and the entire cast returns. I don’t think it’ll have the same impact as the first, but should be an interesting watch regardless.

Thundercat, Drunk Guy’s pick: If you don’t know the name Thundercat, you definitely know his sound. Grammy Award winning bass virtuoso and singer Stephen Bruner (AKA Thundercat) the architect behind Kendrick Lamar’s “To Pimp A Butterfly,” is back mixing funk, R&B and electronica on a sprawling 23-track beast of an album. Thundercat has assembled an amazing guest list for this album, enlisting Kendrick Lamar, producer Flying Lotus, jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington, Pharell Williams, Wiz Khalifa, and the dream team of Kenny Loggins (Danngaa Zoone!!) and the husky silver fox, Michael McDonald. Thundercat’s darkly humorous lyrics, ranging from alcohol dependency, bad break-ups and his love of Japanese anime are delivered in a soft vocal harmony over improvisational bass jams, sprinkled with vocoder-laden cat meows and a fart noise here and there. Listening to this album may seem like a daunting task, considering the number of tracks, but Thundercat slips and slides so smoothly between each track—some serving as interludes or segues into larger pieces that you will crave for another 53 minute playthrough.

This freeform R&B album is a definite standout of 2017.

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

By Dawn Gresko

ChiPs RELEASE DATE: March 24 CAST: Dax Shepard, Michael Peña, Vincent D’Onofrio, Adam Brody What I got from the preview: The classic 70s and 80s cop sitcom – originally starring Larry Wilcox and Erik Estrada – comes to the big screen for a movie reboot. Officer Frank ‘Ponch’ Poncherello (Peña), an agent of the FBI, goes undercover at the California Highway Patrol in order to root out crooked cops. Joined by rookie Officer John Baker (Shepard), the two form a dynamic duo as they go through the criminal underground of LA. The trailer seems to promise raunchy humor, lots of motorcycle chases, and even a budding romance plot or two.

Unqualified critical observation: They made about five penis jokes in this trailer, and the trailer was two and a half minutes long. That is one penis joke every 30 seconds, which is one too many.

I don’t know where Dax Shepard has hidden for the past decade, but I’m not super thrilled to see his blasé acting hit the silver screen again. ChiPs will go the same way as The Dukes of Hazzard and Starsky and Hutch, most likely being a sub-par buddy action comedy capitalizing on Baby Boomer nostalgia.

THE BELKO EXPERIMENT RELEASE DATE: March 17 CAST: John Gallagher, Jr., Tony Goldwyn, John C. McGinley, Melanie Diaz What I got from the preview: Unqualified critical observaLocated in Bogotá, Columbia, the Belko tion: Office Space meets Exam meets company serves as a non-profit to help US The Raid meets Battle Royale, The Belko industries grow in South America. What Experiment has my interest at least. It begins as an ordinary day soon spirals out seems like the classic ‘divert the train’ of control, as the Belko office tower goes philosophy question with much more gore under lockdown, and a mysterious voice involved. I remain cautious though, bestarts making deadly demands over the cause it’s being distributed by BH Tilt – a intercom. When the voice’s threats are division of Blumhouse Production. Blumbloodily executed, the employees at Belko house either puts out fantastic films like are in a race against time – either kill each Whiplash or The Purge, or vomits out any other and sacrifice 30, or stand aside as money grab they can find – like Jem and the voice kills 60. Tense, bloody and more the Holograms or Best Night Ever. But thriller than horror, The Belko Experiment worst comes to worst, at least John C. McGinley is in it, and I need a Dr. Cox fix. promises much.

Bell Biv DeVoe Three Stripes

Tanner’s pick: It’s less exciting that Bell Biv DeVoe put out a new album, and more exciting that old school hip-hop and RnB are deciding to resurface after roughly a decade or more of being slept on by modern artists. BBD was one of the score of pretty boy RnB bands from the 90s, and Three Stripes keeps their old harmonies and PG-13 bars, but with more updated production. They also have other 90s veterans Doug E. Fresh, Boyz II Men and SWV as features.

It’s a fun album, but aside from a few stand out tracks, the only ‘interesting’ part is that it is the first new BBD album in about 16 years. They may have gotten older, but they haven’t lost what made them popular – their charm. Bell Biv DeVoe, more like thick dads, hello.

Dear Evan Hansen soundtrack

Haley’s pick: Musical theatre is not for everyone, but the soundtrack to Dear Evan Hansen, the story of a socially-anxious 17-year-old boy who, in the midst of writing letters to himself, gets caught up in the suicide of a fellow student, leading him on a quest of self-discovery. Sounds a bit wanky, but it’s actually endearing in the least cliché way possible. Like most modern musicals, it has an obvious use of instruments besides piano, turning down the dial on an obvious Broadway sound. It’s heartbreaking in a self-indulgent way but it still manages to maintain a humorous and light overtone, simultaneously participating in a conversation about loss and loneliness, and finding your worth in yourself rather than in the people you desperately want to see you. Truly every song is a standout, each poignant yet charming in their own respect. Ben Platt (Benji from both Pitch Perfect films) leads this stellar soundtrack, which repeats and confirms the refrain that “nobody deserves to be forgotten.”

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D ate l i n e D o w n t o w n Pensacola Ice Flyers Games Continuing out of a playoff championship during the 2015-2016 season, the Pensacola Ice Flyers continue their 2016-2017 season in the Southern Professional Hockey League, lead by the returning former head coach Rod Aldoff. The dates listed are for home games at the Pensacola Bay Center. For more info and to purchase a ticket for the game, visit pensacolaiceflyers.com.

March 3-5: vs. Evansville Thunderbolts March 18: vs. Mississippi Riverkings March 19: vs. Columbus Cottonmouths March 31-Apr 1: vs. Knoxville Ice Bears

Vinyl Music Hall Vinyl Music Hall hosts a variety of events, and March is going to see acts ranging from the reggae rock band Pepper to the sludge metal act Weedeater, from the internet comedian Upchurch the Redneck to indie darling City and Colour. For more information and to purchase tickets for any of these events, visit vinylmusichall.com.

March 1: Pepper March 2: Attila – Let’s Get Abducted Tour March 3: Tribal Seeds March 5: Naughty Professor March 6: David Allan Coe March 7: Lil Debbie March 10: Upchurch the Redneck March 11: Rumours – A Fleetwood Mac Tribute

March 17: The Cold Hard Cash Show – A Tribute To Johnny Cash March 18: Zach Deputy March 22: City and Colour – USA Tour 2017 March 23: Weedeater March 24: Generationals March 25: Memphis May Fire March 26: Dinosaur Jr. March 29: Katchafire March 31: Whiskey Myers

Pensacola Saenger Theatre The Saenger Theatre is home to a host of events every month, and March sets the stage for shows and performances that run the gamut of the arts.

Opera, plays, and musical artists will grace the stage. For more info and to purchase tickets for any of these events, visit www.pensacolasaenger.com.

March 1: Once, The Broadway Musical March 4: Pensacola Symphony Orchestra Presents: Mahler Symphony No.3 March 6: Norah Jones March 7: Amos Lee March 17 & 19: Pensacola Opera Presents: “Dead Man Walking” March 20: An Evening with Gordon Lightfoot March 25: White Tie Rock Ensemble: An Evening of British Rock!

March 27: All Hands On Deck!

Columbus Ships Pinta and Niña To

Land In Perdido Key March 1-6 Perdido Key Oyster Bar & Marina Reconstructed versions of the Niña and Pinta, two of the ships used in Christopher Columbus’s expedition to the Americas, are set to dock at Perdido Key Oyster Bar. They serve as ‘sailing museums’ meant to teach about the Age of Discovery. The ships are available to visit from 9:00 am to 5 pm, and admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, and $6 for students from 5-16. Children 4 and under are free. For more information and to set up a personal tour, email columfnd1492@gmail.com

ABC Beverage Tasting March 2, 5 pm & 7 pm The Deck Bar Atlas Oyster House is presenting their next installment of Atlas Beverage Classes (ABC).

Shaun Dixon, a Great Southern Bar Mixologist, will be on the Deck Bar presenting four choice beverages with complimentary tapas plates. This month’s class will feature drinks from Big Top Brewing Company, located in Sarasota. Classes cost $20 per person. To make a reservation, email maria@goodgrits.com or call 850-217-2347.

Harlem Globetrotters March 2, 7 pm Pensacola Bay Center The Harlem Globetrotters return to Pensacola as part of their 2017 World Tour. Combining skill, artistry and comedy, this tour is also the first to introduce the first ever 4-point line to basketball – a line located 30 feet away from the net. After the game, the Globetrotters will sign autographs, take photos and interact with the fans. Tickets are available at the Pensacola Bay Center Box Office, ticketmaster.com, pensacolabaycenter.com, and by phone at 800-745-3000.

Pensacola Opera Pop-up March 2, 1:45 pm 1401 East Gregory St Pensacola Opera’s Artists in Residence are set to perform some well-known opera melodies during their Pop Up Performances. These are free events which take place before the Beach Bum Trolley’s Historic Pensacola Tours. Admission to the event is free. For more information, call 850-433-6737

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Dateline Downtown

My Fair Lady March 3 – 5, 9 – 12, 17 – 19 Pensacola Little Theatre Based on the book ‘Pygamalion’, My Fair Lady is a musical about Eliza Doolittle – a normal girl trying to becoming a dignified society lady through her speech and actions. Featuring songs such as ‘Wouldn’t It Be Loverly,’ ‘Get Me to the Church’ and ‘On the Street Where You Live,’ My Fair Lady runs for three weekends in March. For showtimes, tickets and more information, visit pensacolalittletheatre. com

Bayou Hills Run 10K-5K-Kids Run March 4, 7 am Bayview Park The Bayou Hills Run, presented by Creative Learning Academy is a family-friendly 10K-5K and Kids 1 Mile Run in Bayview Park. The Bayou Hills Run is one of the area’s only 10K and is a wonderful challenge through the hills of East Hill in Pensacola.

Downtown Pensacola’s Grog March 2017 March 4, 4 pm O’Riley’s Irish Pub The second annual Grog March pub crawl will be starting at O’Riley’s Irish Pub Downtown. Please bring any two non-perishable food items as a

donation for Manna Food Pantries as your entry fee.

Each crawler will be given a t-shirt while supplies last and a passport they can complete to be eligible for the raffle at O’Riley’s later that night. Official Grog March 22oz mugs can also be purchased at the beginning of the crawl. The official mug will grant you two discounted options to refill during the crawl.

Inc. (GBA) will present the 23rd Annual Fine Arts Festival “Gulf Breeze Celebrates the Arts.” The Festival is a juried fine arts and fine crafts festival that brings together quality local, regional, and national artists to Gulf Breeze, Florida. The two-day family event is free to the public and includes over 140 artists.

Music Under the Stars with Roman Street Duo

March 11, 10 am Shoreline Park Sample some of the best gumbo on the Gulf Coast at the Gulf Breeze Rotary’s eleventh annual Gumbo Cook-Off. Enjoy the live music, silent auction, raffle, and kids activities. Tickets are $15 at the gate and $10 in advance. Celebrity judges will name the Best Gumbo made by both private and restaurant teams, while the crowd will select the People’s Choice. Burger, beer and sodas will be available for purchase to help wash down the spicy fare, and children under the age of 8 eat free when accompanied by paying adults.

March 9, 7 pm From The Ground Up Community Garden The guitar duo of Roman Street opens the spring season of Music Under the Stars. Roman Street performs a range of music, from jazz to gypsy, to international and classical. The event also doubles as a food truck rally where you can purchase snacks and meals from local mobile eateries. Gates open at 6:30 pm, and admission is $15 – either online or at the door (cash only). For more information or to purchase tickets, visit RomanStreetInThe Garden.

Eventbrite.com

Gulf Breeze Celebrates the Arts Festival 2017 March 11 – 12, 9 am Gulf Breeze High School The City of Gulf Breeze and Gulf Breeze Arts,

Gulf Breeze Rotary Gumbo Cook-Off

McGuire’s Prediction Run 5K March 11 McGuire’s Irish Pub With more than 5,000 participants, it is Pensacola’s largest run and the nation’s largest prediction run.

Awards to the fastest as well as the most accurate DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 21

Date l i n e D o w n t o w n in predicting the time it will take them to complete the 3.1 mile course.

Express Clydesdales Visit Pensacola March 14 Cordova Mall Express Employment Professionals is hosting the world-renowned Express Employment Professionals Clydesdales at Cordova Mall along with the help of Cordova Rotary to raise funds for the Gulf Coast Kid’s House. The Express Clydesdales will be on display for viewing and rides at Cordova Mall, 5100 N. 9th Ave., 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 14th.

Donations of $5 or more are suggested per ride.

LAC PopUp Gallery March 17-25 43 S Palafox St Leader Art Consultants LLC will be hosting a PopUp Gallery to benefit First City Art Center, starting during the March Gallery Night. Titled “Collect.”, it will kick off with an opening reception on Friday, March 17 between 5:30 – 9pm. The

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PopUp Gallery will remain open to the public March 18-25, 10am – 6pm. For more information regarding times and location, visit www.leaderfineart.com.

For direct inquiries please contact the LAC office at 850-462-8448 or by email at info@leaderfineart. com.

Ciclovia Open Streets Pensacola March 25, 9 am Downtown Pensacola Pensacola will close a portion of our streets to motorized vehicles and open them up to everyone!

At the Ciclovia Open Streets event, you can walk, run, bike, roller skate/blade, stroll, skateboard or just play in the streets! Five miles of roadway running down the middle of historic Pensacola’s business district and along our beautiful Bayfront will be filled with energy and activities for all!

Persona Non Grata Screening March 30, 5:30 pm Temple Beth El, 800 N Palafox St The movie Persona Non Grata tells the true story of

Chiune Sugihara, a Japanese diplomat who saved thousands of Jewish lives from Nazi extermination during World War II. Mr. Sugihara was born in Yaotsu near the city of Gero, Japan. The Consulate General of Japan in Miami is providing a special opportunity for showing the film in Pensacola, Gero’s sister city. This screening will take place during the visit of the 24th delegation from Gero to Pensacola including 20 junior high school students and three adults at the beautiful Temple Beth El.

Annual Members Juried Exhibition March 24 – April 22, 5:30 Pensacola Museum of Art The Pensacola Museum of Art celebrates its 63rd annual Member’s Juried Exhibition. The PMA takes this opportunity each year to highlight our talented members and showcase their works on the Museum walls.The Museum is very proud to continue this beloved tradition, which continues to delight visitors every year. This exhibition is a glimpse into the incredible level of artistic skill and excellence of member artists.

A Valentine’s Gift with Plenty of Heart

Adopt-A-Manatee® for All You Love This Year

Call 1-800-432-JOIN (5646) savethemanatee.org Photo © David Schrichte