July312014issue

Independent News | July 31, 2014 | Volume 15 | Number 31 | inweekly.net

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winners & losers 4

outtakes

buzz

5

cover story 9

7

It shows x that there are other artists in Pensacola that don’t just do beach paintings.

a&e 17

23

19

publisher Rick Outzen

art director Samantha Crooke

editor & creative director Joani Delezen

contributing writers Jessica Forbes, Hana Frenette, Jason Leger, Jennifer Leigh, Sarah

“House Cured and Smoked Salmon

news of the weird

ears & fingers

McCartan, Chuck Shepherd contact us info@inweekly.net

Independent News is published by Inweekly Media, Inc., P.O. Box 12082, Pensacola, FL 32591. (850)438-8115. All materials published in Independent News are copyrighted. © 2014 Inweekly Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

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in this issue

What does modern life look like without social media? Seven Inweekly staffers decided to find out. For one month this summer we said goodbye to our online lives and tried to reconnect with our real ones.

by Joani Delezen & Samantha Crooke

Meet team #unsocial: Alexa: Had second thoughts about this assignment every time there was a World Cup game on.

Ashley: Made an awesome funfetti cake from scratch and didn’t even get to show it off.

on the cover

Ed: Proved that old habits die hard—especially on Instagram.

Hana: Finally admitted she’s a hoarder.

Jason: Gave up his beloved “Song of the Day” posts for the first time in seven years.

Joani: Came back to social media just in time to use the hashtag #otr on her blurry Beyoncé and Jay-Z concert photos.

Samantha: Took her first actual vacation in six years immediately following her social media vacation.

coming soon

Tune in next week for the cutest Inweekly issue of the year. Yup, it’s finally time for the third annual Pet Issue. We’ve got dogs, we’ve got cats (one of those cats is even on a leash) and we’ve got a chicken with the coolest name ever. Trust us, you aren’t going to want to miss this one.

For our #unsocial cover, we transformed our tiny office into a photo studio and used Joani’s desk because it’s always the cleanest. Of course, we spent way too much time adjusting paper clips, taking away staplers and making sure the coffee cup was positioned just right—but that’s what photo shoot styling is all about.

July 31, 2014

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winners & losers

HAS BP DENIED YOUR BUSINESS Pelvic mesh, also known as transvaginal mesh or bladder sling, is mesh that is surgically placed for the treatment of women’s gynecological and urogynecological issues such as pelvic organ prolapse or stress urinary incontinence. Pelvic mesh is made of synthetic material, usually polypropylene. Some products even claim to have a “biologic element” made a collagen blend.

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winners TRACY AND TAMRON GOODSON

The Pensacola couple was recently awarded Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Franchisee of the Year Award. These entrepreneurs have grown their two Beef O’Brady’s locations by more than 40 percent. The award is given to a franchise owner who represents the spirit of the company by being a positive force and being in the stores as full-time owners. It is voted on by the franchise consultants in the field as well as the marketing staff in the corporate office who work closely with franchise owners.

losers ESCAMBIA COUNTY STAFF Nine years ago the Escambia County Commission passed ordinances regulating borrow pits.

Four county administrators and two county attorneys failed to enforce the laws designed to protect the environment and the public.

The only pit that has a permit to operate legally was approved a few weeks ago. The rich and powerful apparently don’t have the same rules as the rest of us.

PENSACOLA PUBLIC RECORDS DEPARTMENT Last year, the State Attorney’s

UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA The Chronicle of Higher Education lists the institution as one of the Great Colleges to Work For. The results are based on a survey of more than 43,000 employees at 278 colleges and universities. Only 92 institutions gained recognition for specific best practices and policies. The survey is organized into 12 “Great College” categories, including collaborative governance, diversity and job satisfaction.

Office blasted the city of Pensacola for its failure to adequately or timely respond to public records requests. Mayor Ashton Hayward spent tens of thousands of taxpayer’s dollars training his staff, buying software and hiring a public records coordinator. Still citizens aren’t getting their records on a timely basis.

FEDEX The National Flight Academy

the 11th Circuit has ruled that doctors do not have the right to ask patients if they own a firearm when unnecessary to a patient's care.

The Florida chapters of the American Academies of Pediatrics and American College of Physicians, along with a number of other groups and individuals backed by the anti-gun community, filed this lawsuit against the State of Florida after Governor Rick Scott signed a bill backed by the National Rifle Association in 2011. The judges ruled that the practice of good medicine does not require interrogation about irrelevant, private matters.

recently announced that FedEx has provided scholarships for 108 middle and high school students from the Memphis area to attend a six-day program at the academy. Participants lived aboard the virtual aircraft carrier, Ambition, where they experienced an aviationbased adventure that utilized STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics).

Captain Ed Lyons, Vice President of Safety and Airworthiness at FedEx Express, was the guest speaker at the National Flight Academy graduation event.

AMERICAN ACADEMIES OF PEDIATRICS The United States Court of Appeals for

PENSACOLA PARA CON 2014 A Science, Sci Fi, Anime, Gaming, Paranormal, Horror & Costuming Convention

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Pensacola, FL

Tickets: $10 & Up, Children 12 and under are free

www.pensacolaparacon.com 44

______________________________________________

inweekly.net

O.K. WITH CORRECTIONS BY:_________________________________________

2907 E. GONZALEZ STREET outtakes

by Rick Outzen

WAITING ON JOE My dad passed away 34 years ago. We had only begun relating to each other as adults when he suddenly died of a heart attack. I still miss him, though I’ve lived more years without him than with him. I hunger for his laugh, stories and companionship.

Last week, I received an email to say that Joe Azar was in town on vacation and wanted to know if I could have lunch with him. Joe Azar was my dad’s closest childhood, his best friend. We agreed to meet at Dharma Blue.

I got there early, a little apprehensive, not knowing what to say. I hadn’t spoken to him in over three decades.

Dad is frozen in time for me because he died so young. Other than my 83-yearold mother, there aren’t that many people whom I can talk with about my dad, people who knew him when he was young, people who can share stories about his life.

Joe Azar knew, really knew, my dad. He knew his strengths and faults, his triumphs and disappointments. He could tell me what kind of student he was at St. Rosa of Lima School, what they did for fun and how they settled on their careers.

My dad loved Ole Miss football. Was Joe with him when he watched LSU’s Billy

Cannon run back the punt that upset his beloved Rebels? I knew Joe graduated from Notre Dame. Did they bet on the Ole MissNotre Dame game in 1977?

Dad was a master storyteller and sought-after public speaker. One of my prized possessions is a folder filled with scraps of papers that he used to jog his memory of his jokes and tall tales. Did Joe have a favorite joke, one that still made him laugh?

My dad grew up in the Great Depression, was a teenager during World War II and served in Air Force during the Korean War. I knew that his family didn’t have a lot of money when he was young. I wanted to ask Joe, ‘Did dad ever have any doubts?

Was he ever scared? Did he worry any about the future and how he would provide for his five sons and a daughter?’

So I waited on Joe. My mind and heart filled with questions. Excited and nervous.

When he got there, I didn’t get all my questions answered. Most of them never came up.

However, I did get to visit Joe Azar, who knew and loved my dad, and that was enough. {in} rick@inweekly.net

When he got there, I didn’t get all my questions answered.

Most of them never came up.

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inweekly.net 7/15/14 9:53 AM

buzz

all the political news and gossip fit to print

INCREASE THE PEACE Local organization Increase the Peace is looking for support for the Back to School Summer Jam, Aug. 16 from 12 to 5 p.m. in Morris Court.

The event's aim is to get children ready for school with free school supplies and an afternoon of family-friendly fun. Increase the Peace is asking for support for the event by way of donations of school supplies, as well as hamburgers, buns, chips, juice and water.

"Whatever Pensacola can give us, we will accept in an attempt to get our children ready and prepared to head back to school," said Tasha Nixon of Increase the Peace. To contact Nixon, call 430-4255 or email tnixon330@cpmapartments.com.

PITIFUL ESCAMBIA The number one illegal business in Escambia County may not be marijuana, heroin or meth. No, the most profitable illegal business operation appears to be dirt.

The revelation came July 24 at the Board of County Commissioners agenda review during a discussion on a proposed moratorium on construction and debris landfills and borrow pits.

“Based upon the review, they’re no permits for a borrow pits except for one according to the inspections that were done,” said Horace Jones, Jr., interim director of the county’s Development Services Division.

“Looking at our records and our systems, there was only one borrow pit permit.”

The ordinances covering borrows pits have been on the books since 2005. Yet only one borrow pit has a legal permit to operate, and that permit was only approved a few weeks ago by the county commission.

Borrow pits are used in construction and civil engineering. Soil and sand are extracted from the land and used for many of the major construction projects in the area.

The county permits require the owners to put up surety bonds and submit reclamation plans for how they would restore the property after the soil had been mined.

Several of the commissioners were stunned the county only had one legal

Longleaf C&D Landfi ll borrow pit. “It’s reasonable to expect that if someone’s doing business that they would have a permit,” Commission Chairman Lumon May said, who has been pushing for tighter regulation of landfills and permits in the Wedgewood neighborhood.

“It’s reasonable to believe that if staff has knowledge of that, they would have advised someone to pull the permit and made that process very simple for a person to have.”

Escambia County did do that in 2011 when Campbell’s Sand and Gravel in Century and Green Fill Dirt Sand Pit in the Wedgewood area were cited for operating borrow pits without permits.

In August 2011, county staff told the commissioners—Gene Valentino, Grover Robinson, Wilson Robertson, Marie Young and Kevin White— that six borrow pits had been operating illegally for at least fi ve years.

The concern then, as it was on July 24, was how to get the illegal borrow pits in compliance. Three years ago, the commission voted to allow the owners to get interim permits that would give them year to meet all the legal requirements. Those permits expired on Dec. 5, 2012. None of the owners renewed their permits.

None.

Attorney Mike Papantonio, senior partner

of Levin Papantonio law firm and cofounder of Emerald Coastkeepers, said that he would not be surprised if an investigation led to criminal indictments.

“There were laws on the books for nine years that these companies ignored despite given several chances to get in compliance, and it appears that until Commissioner May started asking question the county staff turned a blind-eye to the violations,” Papantonio said.

“This is the type of dirty politics that is usually reserved for Third World countries,” he said. “The environment is raped and pillaged, greedy people make millions, citizens get sick and die, and the regulators stand by and just watch.”

Papantonio is no stranger to environmental cases. In 2001, he filed a lawsuit against ConocoPhillips that led to a $70 million settlement with Pensacola residents whose property was potentially contaminated by a toxic plume that has spread from the old Agrico Chemical Co. fertilizer plant. In 2007, as lead trial counsel in the environmental class action case of Perrine v. Dupont, Papantonio received a jury verdict award for the Spelter, West Virginia community with an estimated value in excess of $380 million.

“We will be watching the developments in this investigation very closely,” Papantino said.

The Escambia County Commission voted July 24 to give the borrow pit operators another chance to get their permits.

They have until August 21 “Everyone needs to be held to the

standards and we need to be pressing that and moving that forward,” Commissioner Grover Robinson said.

May agreed. “We can't take any more excuses. We just have to continue to move forward.”

CITY STILL PLAYS WITH REQUESTS

Attorney Eric Stevenson has asked the State Attorney’s Office to reopen its investigation into how the city of Pensacola fulfills public record requests. He alleges that Jane Ballard, the city’s public records coordinator, intentionally delayed the release a public record and failed to deliver it in a timely fashion as required by Florida law.

Stevenson was forced to wait for over 45 days for Ballard to answer his June 6 public record request regarding the mayor’s use of outside council. When he finally received a response from Ballard on the city’s public records website, the only document was a PDF of a series of emails between her and attorney Bob Kerrigan. The date of those emails was June 6, the same day of his request.

“Why did I have to wait a month and a half for this? She had the answer the day I made the request,” Stevenson said.

“Last year the State Attorney’s Office raked the city over the coals for how poorly it handled public record requests.

Mayor Hayward had the entire city staff sit through a public records seminar, hired a new coordinator and purchased a fancy software system.”

He said, “Still they play games with routine requests. Amazing.”

Earlier this year, Mayor Hayward announced a goal of closing 80 percent of public records requests in seven days or less by the end of 2014. In a May 27 press release, the mayor said that among the 101 completed requests initiated in the first five months of 2014, the average time to close was under six days–5.58 days to be exact.

The Stevenson request with its 45 dayplus delay will hurt that average and may lead to another investigation. {in}

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inweekly.net

Last summer, some of our staff agreed to give up our biggest technology vices for a story called #disconnect. For most of us it ended up being things like email, iPhones and TVs. But the writers who enjoyed the assignment and learned the most all gave up something related to social media. So this year we decided why not take it up a notch and see if anybody was willing to give up social media completely.

July 31, 2014

Of course, not everybody who participated last year got on board. Saying goodbye to Facebook all together isn’t nearly as easy as just saying you won’t read it on your phone after all. But there were seven Inweekly staffers willing to sign up for a thirty day social media blackout. We decided to call it #unsocial.

The rules for #unsocial were simple—no social media of any kind for one

month. None, not even one tweet. We banned every platform—even those that we don’t use too often like Vine, just to be safe. Some of us suspended our accounts, some of us just deleted the apps from our smartphones. We tried to tell people we’d be gone without telling them why, just incase anybody wanted to invite us to their Scentsy party or tag us in a photo from middle school while we were away. We

didn’t want all of our “friends” thinking we were mad at them.

So what does modern life look like without likes, friend requests and #throwbackthursday? Some of us cheated too early to even find out and some of us liked it so much we vowed to never go back.

Here’s what our individual months being #unsocial looked like.

9

Write me a letter

by Ashley McLain

M

aybe a little too giddy over #unsocial, I excitedly signed off of all social media around 8 p.m. the night before the challenge started. By 8:15 p.m., I was already questioning if I had made a major mistake agreeing to participate. I stared at my phone, no notifications, nothing to flip through, nothing to like. “What’s an iPhone even good for without Instagram, Twitter and Facebook?” I texted a friend.

Day one I left my phone in my bag the whole day and I began to not even think about what I might be missing. By day two any hesitations I initially felt were gone, and I was completely sold on a life without social media.

While I was social media detoxing, I would love to say that I was wildly productive and completed all the projects I’m always putting off, but that just wasn't the case. What I did experience, however, was much better. In the midst of my social media shutout, I found a weird form of freedom.

Yes, I know it sounds gag-worthy, but hear me out: The ability to live without worrying about a status update, check-in or perfectly angled Instagram photo capturing a moment that really wasn't all the cool to begin with felt really good. I ditched the FOMO, stopped comparing myself to others, and stopped feeling guilt for not liking or commenting on a friend's latest life update.

It was exciting to get texts, calls and emails from friends who were actually

010 1

making an effort to stay in touch rather than just flipping through my latest posts. If people wanted to get in touch with me, they did. And it completely cut out all the rants about tourist traffic, whining about jobs and 5,000 nearly identical photos of Fourth of July fireworks.

Turning off the noise meant everyone in my life instantly became more interesting. I began asking people how their day was out of genuine interest rather than just nodding while mentally predicting their response based on the status updates I’d seen. I spent more time hanging out with friends and family members and doing things I enjoy than I ever did with social media. And that whole thing about how you’ll get better sleep if you’re not playing with your phone before bed? Yeah, it’s totally true.

I would be lying if I didn’t say there were a few drawbacks. I wanted so badly to post a triumphant status update when I passed my thesis defense in Gainesville, or maybe an Instagram of me face punching the bull gator statue. Traveling and finding new places to try became a little more difficult without Foursquare, which I hear isn’t even Foursquare anymore. Finding out Ryan Gosling is now a soon-to-be papa a couple days after the rest of the world knew was pretty lame too. But, really none of these things were important enough to make me want to reconnect.

Being anti-social media became such an engrained behavior that when it came time to turn it all back on I found myself hating the idea–what if the FOMO came back? Did I really want to bring back in all the annoyance? At the demanding of my friends I turned on Instagram briefly for 5 minutes and decided I really wasn't all that into it anymore. I've since decided to keep it on so I can post occasional pictures that I feel like sharing, but mostly so my friends will quit asking, "Did you see that pic I tagged you in on IG?" We’ve become so involved in one another’s lives that taking a step back—even for just a month—can really put real life versus social media life into perspective. Because of this, I intend to stay radio silent a little while longer. Yes, I’m one of “those” people now. Write me a letter.

How did this guy get anything else done?

by Jason Leger

I

am a creature of habit. I have been one for as long as I can remember. This actually seems to tie into some form of mild OCD for me.

So before I began #unsocial, I had a pattern to social media. First thing in the morning, I would post a usually strategically chosen song of the day on Facebook.

There was always a method. The song may have correlated to something—a holiday, an album release, or simply my mood. Later in the day, I would post a link to this song with its most striking lyrics. After that, I had some options. I’m undertaking a public “Year of Gratitude” experiment, following last year’s experiment on perspective. Publicly, this is reduced to snippets of things I’m thinking about, words from what I’m reading at the moment, or the occasional song lyric, all branded with “2014, the year of gratitude.” Then, usually a YouTube video would come while doing #homework, going to the #gym, going to #bed, or getting ready for the #wknd, that would express whatever is transpiring. This video is also

interchangeable with an article or picture with some expression of how “Everyone else doesn’t get it, but I don’t get it either, but I’m closer than them,” which more often than not would end up making me irritated or sick of myself, and I would end up taking it down. Of course, all of this is interspersed with Instagram pictures of whatever I’m listening to at the moment or my sweet dog or a hilarious idea Tweeted out because it isn’t quite funny enough for Facebook.

I know what you’re thinking, “How did this guy get anything else done during the day?” Honestly, sometimes I didn’t.

My work, my writing, my homework, the gym, my family, my friends—they would all have to sit and wait, as I got lost in staring at pictures and articles and status updates for extended periods of time.

I felt the challenge was going to be tough, but I knew I needed a change. The first few days were simple. Being the creature of habit that I am, if I took a picture of something, I sent it to someone and had a laugh with them. I did much more interacting, working, writing and of course, listening to music. I became much more productive during my day. So much so that I was able to take on other people’s work as well and do it all efficiently. I hardly thought about what my friends were posting on Facebook or Instagram. Honestly, I began to dread the end of the challenge. I dreaded looking at opinions I disagreed with. I dreaded looking at changing relationship statuses. I dreaded seeing people openly bitching about other people. I dreaded looking at cat pictures. I simply didn’t want it anymore. I had seen the other side, and I didn’t want to go back.

So when the 30 days ended, I logged in.

The first thing I saw on Facebook was a gif of cats bobbing their heads to music. I watched the full rotation three times, then logged back out. It took me another day to log back in.

I have started posting songs of the day again because I enjoy that. But I posted something unrelated to music last week for the first time, and I felt gross. I’m going to utilize that feeling. I don’t want to be who I was 30 days ago. I have a new perspective, and I’m extremely grateful. If you feel addicted to social media, take my advice: it’s easier to break away than you may think.

Just cut it off. The op-ed piece isn’t that important. The Thought Catalog article isn’t that important. The cat video is seriously not that important. inweekly.net

It’s not you, it’s me

by Joani Delezen

C

onfession: I came up with #unsocial, and I did so for pretty selfish reasons.

I really needed a mental break, but I wasn’t sure I could do it, at least not alone.

I wanted some company. So I created the assignment and got some writers on board. Oh, the joys of being the boss.

44% of smartphone owners sleep with their phone.

(International Data Corporation)

44%

July 31, 2014

My reasons for wanting to take a social media break were pretty typical—too much noise, not enough productivity, being annoyed by my “friends” (you know, the ones who post way too often and comment on every freakin’ thing you post), missing out on moments because I was too busy documenting them… Like I said, typical.

So I started off my #unsocial month with high expectations (I’m going to read like 10 books!) and a few accountability partners just a text away. Sure, I was going to miss my Instagram feed (that’s where I get my daily dose of pretty from artists and bloggers I’m fans of), but taking a breather from Facebook and Twitter was going to be great.

And it was.

Sure, I missed some things like news of breakups, engagements and a celebrity death or two. But all of that seemed small and insignificant in comparison to the stuff I was doing with my new found free time like reading, decluttering my entire house (even under the bed) and having coffee with friends I hadn’t seen in way too long. I learned that I fall asleep much quicker when reading an actual book

than reading on Facebook. I guess all that stuff about artificial light affecting your sleep cycle is true after all. I also made it a point to send happy birthday texts during the month.

Surprisingly they take just as long to create as happy birthday posts, but are received much better. Pretty much everyone I sent one to responded immediately (out of shock probably, thinking ‘why isn’t she posting to my wall?’). They also got me some personal invites to a few birthday parties and dinners that I actually went to. Yup, being #unsocial made me more social—go figure.

But it wasn’t the golden ticket to the perfectly productive, put together life I dreamed it would be.

You see, even without social media, I was still me. I still bought cookbooks but didn’t actually cook. I still started things and didn’t finish them. I still got distracted way too easily. I still wasted time. Turning off the noise didn’t fix all my problems, it just made them much easier to spot.

I’m really good at keeping myself busy, but not having much to show for it. That’s what I need to work on. And as much as I painted it as my personal time-sucking villain, it turns out social media isn’t my only vice.

But it’s crazy how hard it is to find out basic things what time a concert starts or if my high school boyfriend is married without it. So I’m going to keep my accounts for those types of things, but I’m not going to get sucked back into reading my newsfeed every morning or responding to every pointless thing I’m tagged in. I just can’t, or I know I’ll never start crossing things of my to-do list like starting a blog or walking my puppy everyday. So if you’re my “friend” please consider this my “we’re breaking up” post (unless you want to find me in the real world of course). Just remember, it’s not you, it’s me.

16% 16% of people under 25 rely on Twitter for their morning news.

(Spotlight Communications)

DEBATING A DETOX? Chances are if you’re reading this issue and thinking to yourself, ‘Maybe I should try a social media detox too,’ you probably need one. And if you aren’t willing to admit it, you probably really need to.

But you don’t have to take our word for it. Here are some tell-tale signs you could use a little moderation when it comes to social media: • You have “friends” you’ve never actually met • You’ve ever posted any of the following: a car selfie, a shirtless selfie, an “I woke up like this” selfie, an airplane selfie…

• People call you by your

Instagram or Twitter handle offline • You’ve gotten in trouble on a plane for not “powering down” • You’ve paid for a photo editing app because those Instagram filters just weren’t cutting it • You were bummed when people stopped using Foursquare and your “mayor” status didn’t mean as much • You have a Vine account and actually use it

• Same with Google+ • If you’ve ever posted five or more status updates within an hour (that’s what Twitter is for, silly) • If getting retweeted or liked has ever made your day (or at least made you brag a bit) • You’ve stalked an ex via their FB page or Instagram feed at least once this month • You get jealous when people take better photos or post funnier Tweets than you If you’re guilty of three or more of these, you might want to think about unplugging, at least a little bit. For tips and realistic strategies on how to do just that, turn to page 15.

11

85% I’m a bit of a hoarder

by Hana Frenette

85 percent of women are annoyed by their friends on Facebook.

(Web Pro News)

W

hen I first agreed to sign off social media for a month, my initial concerns were few and fairly trivial. I thought ‘what if something really crazy happens in the next month, like a truly monumental law is passed or a really good cat meme surfaces?’ Then I remembered that I wasn’t banned from reading the news, just obtain-

ing it from social media. It only took me a day to realize how much I rely on Facebook as a place to cultivate information about local and world events. 24 hours into #unsocial, not a real newspaper in sight, I found myself walking around feeling totally disconnected. What’s going on? What relevant yet mundane topic is The Onion making fun of today?

What kind of Buzzfeed quiz about the ‘90s would I be taking right now?

What’s happening in the Ukraine? I know nothing. Nothing.

After a moment of reflection and the realization that I could still access any and all news sites, I chose to focus my concerns on the purely social interaction I would be lacking for the next 30 days. Would I miss posting photos on Instagram? Yes. I take a lot of pictures and it’s probably my favorite social media platform. Could I still take pictures and show them to people? Sure, just not all at once to an entire spectrum of friends, family, strangers and acquaintances. Then there’s Twitter. Something I never got into and almost never use. A better challenge there might be making me use Twitter for 30 days. And of course Facebook. I use Facebook a little less than Instagram, but I still troll it frequently and aimlessly at times. In the grocery store line. Waiting for a coffee to be made. Sitting on the couch with a friend. I do like that I can reach out to hundreds of people at once with a question about where the best french fries in town are or to promote a yard sale or something, but the actual amount of interacting has lessened a bit in recent years.

Instead I find myself sifting through the drudge of posts that offer a plethora of the good, the bad and the melodramatic.

One of my best friends says that when she checks the birthday section of Face-

book, and sees someone she doesn’t really care about wishing a happy birthday to, she unfriends them right then. On their birthday.

She says it’s her present to them, to rid them of her indifference on their special day. I think it’s actually a very thoughtful gift. It got me thinking about how much stuff we all take in every day on social media that we feel indifferent to. What my old roommate had for breakfast or where someone I sat next to in high school just moved. Maybe it would do us all a little good to unfollow and unfriend a few, not out of spite or annoyance but the sheer recognition that we don’t need to keep every person, place or thing around that was once significant in our life.

Will I follow through with that? Probably not, but it at least crossed my mind. I’m a bit of a hoarder and despite the fact that social connections aren’t tangible, I can see myself holding on to a Facebook friend of a friend the same way I would a birthday card from five years ago.

Toward the end of this hiatus from social media, I felt much less concerned with what other people were doing or what I might be missing out on. I didn’t start half my conversations with a reference to something someone posted or shared. I also realized how often I reach for the phone out of habit, and would end up accidentally tapping the apps that were now in place of the ones I had deleted. I must have opened the weather app instead of Instagram about 50 times. It was decidedly much less interesting, but I can’t say I wasn’t informed.

I do think the sites that allow us to share parts of our lives are great and have allowed us to communicate easier and much more frequently than ever before, but it is nice to step back from it all for a second and mentally de-clutter. The break was pleasant enough but when it was time to return, I’ll happily admit I couldn’t wait to send all kinds of links, post pictures and just generally lurk a little.

OH NO, WE DIDN'T Gym selfies. RIP status updates for celebrities you aren’t even fans of. #sorrynotsorry.

Everybody is guilty of committing a social media faux pas from time to time—including us. In fact, acknowledging how annoying we can sometimes be was a large part of what made us want to take on this challenge.

So instead of a laundry list of our social media pet peeves, we’ve all agreed to confess our guiltiest moments. It’s ok to judge us for these, because we totally judge you every time you Instagram your lunch.

212 1

JOANI: I actually shared a

BuzzFeed quiz called “Which Beyoncé Are You” on Facebook.

Don’t get me wrong, I am more than ok when people share stuff like that with me. I mean, what else is the internet good for besides obsessing over Queen B? I just want to be too busy to find it. And just in case you’re wondering which Beyoncé I got (which I’m sure you are) it was “I Need A Solider”—which I’m not sure I agree with. I always thought I was more of a “Grown Woman.”

JASON: I have a tendency to

passive aggressively post song lyrics or novel quotes to say things for me. Example: “If I stay here, trouble will find me…” Also, I'm 16.

ASHLEY:

I definitely post way too many pictures of my pup, Lucy, but c'mon she's just so darn cute!

ED: After a recent break-up, I

posted several versions of "I Can't Make You Love Me," over a two week period. I know, eww. They don’t call me Emo Ed for nothing (and by “they” I mean Joani—she’s mean sometimes).

SAMANTHA: I don’t even remem-

ber the last time my profile photo was actually of me. It’s always my kids, sometimes me with my kids, but mostly just my kids.

Sorry if you’ve ever looked for me and couldn’t find me.

the one time I lived abroad, even though it was over two years ago.

Yeah… I realize no one cares.

HANA:

It’s a tie between cat spam (they’re the closest thing I have to kids, so it’s ok) and dressing room selfies.

ALEXA:

All I post are pictures of cats. My cats, stray cats, photos of cats I find on the Internet. Or old photos of inweekly.net

I’m a cheater

By Edwin Banacia

T

he assignment? Unplug from social media for a month and document the journey. Four weeks. Sounds easy, right? I failed miserably. This grand project started on June 13th. By the next day, I had already cheated.

My timeline (pun intended): June 14—Took a picture with two beautiful women at Seville Quarter. In my inebriated condition, I must have felt compelled to share this experience with my fellas, so I pushed the photo to Instagram and Facebook.

June 16—The Miami Heat lose the NBA Finals. Why didst thou tempt me so?

June 17—What Game of Thrones name would I have? You read that correctly—I cheated on my editorial assignment because I was tempted by an online quiz.

At this point, I really am starting to question my commitment. I resolve to do better. At the least, maybe I can add a few days at the end.

June 18 —I meet a wonderful woman at the Fish House on Ladies Night. Of course, instead of my phone number, she wants to “friend me” on Facebook. And since beautiful women are my kryptonite, I break my resolve and sign on to accept. But if you only knew the pressure my mother puts on me to make her a grandchild, you’d take some pity on me.

July 31, 2014

June 19—I had completely given up.

I started changing my profile picture, posting travel adventures on Instagram and I even started a Twitter account, although I justified the Twitter account by telling myself, “It’s work related.” I could give you countless examples from my newsfeed, but it would only serve to reiterate the fact that this time around, I just couldn’t unplug. This should have been an opportunity to escape from the bombardment of distractions that have become commonplace in this new world. At every turn, something is interrupting me from my work, my innermost personal thoughts and even my physical space. I probably could have used 30 days to break the chains of this torture we have not only learned to accept but also acclimated ourselves to yearn for.

I’m an addict.

I’m the Patty Hearst of hostages and my relationship to social media is the strongest form of the Stockholm syndrome, the condition where hostages feel empathy and care for their captors. I believe that my captor is an omnipotent, caring protector. But really my relationship with social media is quite terrifying. I am a stimulation addict.

And this is why I couldn’t unplug.

We feel that we have to compete with our friends. How many times have you looked at your newsfeed and said, “There’s no way their lives are this fascinating.” The people that post about their real lives and struggles are crazy, bi-polar or flawed. So we don’t post that stuff. We pose at just the right angle, we brag about our adventures, we take selfies at the gym and we’re all wealthy with incredibly fascinating lives. But that’s not the complete picture. That’s really not who we are at all.

We’ve all become narcissists addicted to our own movie plot and we can’t stop. The train is moving too fast now. Maybe all we can do is admit the truth to ourselves.

So here’s mine: Hi, my name is Edwin, and I’m an addict.

I don't take selfies

by Alexa Reed

‘O

h, the vanity!’

That was my first thought after signing back on to social media after taking a 30-day sabbatical. OK, technically is was 32 days–I forgot when the challenge ended and kept going for a couple extra days, which speaks for itself about how accustomed I became to not having a social media presence.

I didn’t think the challenge would be that difficult going into it. After all, I am much more of a spectator than participant in regard to social media. I don't like to share too much personal information, I don't take selfies and I learned a long time ago that the Internet is not the best place to engage in discussions about anything of importance. But out of habit and comfort, I always found myself refreshing my Instagram and Facebook feeds.

But at first it was challenging to break my social media habit. How was I going to waste time on my 15-minute break or procrastinate when I have deadline? Well, the Internet is a big place, so it wasn’t hard.

I filled my time reading the news more, getting lost in rabbit holes I found interesting or devouring the New Yorker archive that was made free for the summer.

I realized within the first week how much people truly rely on Facebook for communication. When I showed up to my weekly trivia night, I was questioned multiple times about why I deleted Facebook

and how these people would contact me. 'Um, the old fashioned way,' I told them. ‘Call me.’

I also became more aware of how many conversations start with the phrase, ‘Did you see [insert photo/post/news/ here] on Facebook?’

But what I struggled with most during #unsocial was not having social media during the World Cup. I wanted to know the reaction of my German friends, I wanted to see where everyone was gathering to watch the matches. It killed me not having this information at my fingertips like I normally would.

I also missed posts from friends who got married, traveled to Thailand, had babies and got engaged.

Missing these events made me feel a bit isolated, even though I wasn’t actively participating in them.

So, I signed back on after 32 days. I was bombarded with my least favorite things: photos of people's faces just like the other 50 that have been posted (we get it, you’re attractive). Status updates telling me of whatever side of the Israel/Palestine conflict someone's one (you’re not going to change anyone’s opinion). People asking for prayers (God totally checks Facebook). And I guess these things serve a purpose, whether it’s a way to connect, reach out or feel validated—I just don’t understand it.

I was also hit with the realization of all the “friends” I forgot existed. The thought of them didn't even cross my mind when they weren't popping up in my news feed regularly. I felt bad, even guilty. But maybe this experiment showed me who I really need to consider as an actual friend. On the other hand, it helped to strengthen relationships with those I’m close to. My conversations seemed to be more engaging, surprising, personal and real.

Most importantly and surprisingly, getting off of social media made me like people more. I wasn’t annoyed by online personas that people carefully seem to craft that sometimes aren’t anything like their actual personalities. There was less complaining.

I stopped comparing myself as much to my peers, who seem to have it all figured out (at least on their profiles). It was refreshing.

Of course, I resurrected my Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts. But I haven’t posted anything or put the apps back on my phone. I check these sites more purposefully now instead of relying on them to pass the time. I will probably always have a social media presence, but I just vow to use it more responsibly.

13

63% 63% of smartphone owners keep their phone with them for all but an hour of their waking day.

It started to feel like a vacation

(International Data Corporation)

by Samantha Crooke

T

his is embarrassing to admit as a parent, but my one-year-old daughter’s favorite thing to steal and play with is my cell phone. Given that she is at the stage where she likes to mirror what she sees (especially anything that mommy does), that’s a pretty big warning sign and was reason enough for me to give #unsocial a go.

I did have some mixed feelings, because a week and a half prior, I’d started

ARE YOU A FACEBOOK JUNKIE? Check out this Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale (created by Dr. Cecilie Andraessen at the University of Bergen (UiB), Norway, and colleagues) to assess if you might have a problem.

Jot down your answers using one of the following: (1) Very rarely, (2) Rarely, (3) Sometimes, (4) Often and (5) Very often.

414 1

using Instagram to keep myself accountable to create daily art. Also, despite my knowing that I probably spend too much time being “social” (who doesn’t?), where else other than Facebook and Instagram can I post photos of my kids doing cute things and get instant feedback? And those likes—constant proof that my art is good and my kids are cute.

I didn’t figure I’d have too much of a problem giving up it all up for a month. Wrong. The first day is ridiculously hard.

In some bizarre phantom limb like scenario, I keep reaching for my iPhone for an app that’s no longer there. I almost cheat by accident on a computer, just through habit. I’m annoyed at myself. That weekend, my husband asks me if I’ve heard that Casey Kasem died. I give him a disgusted look and have to spell out for him that obviously not, since I’m cut off from the source where I normally get all of my news. He isn’t sympathetic. That night I eat too much ice cream and watch a terrible movie with Justin Long about him stalking some girl’s Facebook profile to make himself the “perfect guy” and am inordinately jealous of his instant accessibility.

For the next few days, I also continue to do art and feel an inflated sense of confidence in my ability to continue my personal art goal without online accountability. I waste less time worrying about how many “likes” I get and spend more time actually making stuff. Another day, in a rare bout of craftiness, I work on a DIY swim cap for my daughter for a photo shoot concept I have, and since I can’t

You spend a lot of time thinking about Facebook or planning how to use it.

1.

You use Facebook so much that it has had a negative impact on your job/studies.

2.

Scoring "often" or "very often" on at least four of the six items are a positive indicator of Facebook addiction.

Andraessen & colleagues also found that various personality traits related to the scale: for instance neuroticism and extraversion related positively, and conscientiousness related negatively. High scores on the BFAS are also, linked to going to bed very late and getting up very late, so it's a good idea to cut back if you feel you are missing out on early morning productivity.

You feel an urge to use Facebook more and more.

3.

You use Facebook in order to forget about personal problems.

4.

You have tried to cut down on the use of Facebook without success.

5.

You become restless or troubled if you are prohibited from using Facebook.

6.

post a photo, I text Joani a pic. Selectively showing people what you’re working on feels better and gets you better feedback.

Somewhere along the way #unsocial starts to feel like some sort of vacation, and I enjoy the freedom of not keeping up with other people’s lives. Eventually, I stop reaching for my phone. It’s surprising, given how addicted I felt prior, how relatively quickly this switch happens. I do things I normally wouldn’t—try new recipes, read more, do more varied activities with my kids, throw the Frisbee with our usually neglected dog, take more photos with my actual camera.

Apparently I take the vacation too literally, because I also stop doing art.

Initially, I felt like a failure when the challenge ended, because I came into this thinking the focus would be to see if I could stick with my art despite not having outside feedback. The truth is, life happened—the kids and I got sick, and we had to postpone our family trip to see my grandma in Ohio, where I’d had visions of being even more inspired to paint and draw daily. I missed Facebook the most during this point, because I badly wanted to complain and get a little sympathy from other people. But then I considered the other result this month had on my life.

While I ultimately slacked on art, I was more present for my family.

When I got back on social media, it took me roughly an hour and a half to catch up on what I really missed. That’s absurd considering that’s how much time I used to spend on Facebook alone daily. That’s a lot of wasted time. I do think social media still has some validity in my life, in that it’s tough for me being a busy parent to carve time out to catch up with friends. I also missed seeing work from artists I’m inspired by and photos of my friends’ kids (keep posting, I really do love them). I don’t think I will give it all up for good, but I’m going to make a concerted effort to limit my time to something far more reasonable, like 15 minutes max a day when the kids are sleeping. Bonus, I'll probably start to have a little less mom guilt too.

Facebook has been linked to 66 percent of divorces in the U.S in the past five years.

(Third Age)

66%

inweekly.net

POWERING DOWN—DOABLE DETOX PLANS So you’re intrigued by the idea of a social media detox, but don’t want to go cold turkey like team Inweekly did? We get that. What we did isn’t realistic in the long term anyway. You might not have to use Facebook, but you want to sometimes and that’s ok. The key with social media (and pretty much everything else in life) is moderation.

First things first: Take a week or two and monitor your social media usage. Keep track of how much time you’re spending, plus other relevant factors like where and when you log in the most often.

Once you’ve tracked your time and have an honest number (there really isn’t any point in lying—this is for you, not your boss or therapist), make a list of what else you could have done with that time. Read a book, take a few classes at the gym, plant a garden, teach your kid to read… When you start to think about time spent online in terms like that, it begins to make the idea of unplugging a little easier, doesn’t it?

You might also notice a pattern based on where and when you tend to kill

time on social media most frequently.If it is at home during the evening, that might explain why you can’t remember the last time you cooked dinner. Or if it’s in bed, that might explain why you and your significant other aren’t as umm… “close” as you used to be.

Now that you’ve got a clear picture of how your online life is affecting your real life, picking a strategy that will work and actually benefit you should be a little easier.

Here are some of our favorite game plans:

OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND

•• Put your phone away when you walk in the door and don’t look at until after dinner. Or before bed. Or the next morning.

Whatever works for you.

•

GO SCREEN FREE

If you set aside “screen free” time, you’ll be limiting your social media usage by default—sometimes it really is that simple.

We know a family that does this one Saturday a month and couple that has weekly screen free date nights. Technically TVs are screens too, so whether you go that far is your call.

TRY PHONE STACKING

• Phone stacking is a "game" for people who find themselves distracted while out with friends. How it works: have everybody in your group put their phones in the middle of the table. Whoever looks at theirs first has to buy the next round or pick up the check.

DON'T CHARGE IT

• Allow yourself to use your devices until

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the battery dies, but restrict how often you can recharge them. This will keep you from scrolling mindlessly on Pintrest for hours.

BEDDING DOWN

• The only thing worse than sleeping next to a buzzing iPhone is sleeping next to someone who’s always on their iPhone. Banning digital devices from the bedroom will help you sleep and in a lot of cases reconnect with your partner—just ask Marc Jacobs. Don’t forget to dust off your old school alarm clock though.

GIVE YOURSELF A DIGITAL CURFEW

• If you find yourself glued to a device at night and having a hard time falling asleep, try assigning a curfew—something like “no iPads after 10 p.m.” or “No screens after The Daily Show.”

BUDDY SYSTEM

• There really is strength in numbers, so try and get your best friend or significant other to detox with you. Then you can get together and talk about how much you’re aren’t missing on social media.

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inweekly.net

WEEK OF JULY 31-AUG 7

Arts & Entertainment art, film, music, stage, books and other signs of civilization...

‘A Glimpse into a Different World’

by Jennifer Leigh

“Comic art speaks to the child in all of us and makes us feel young.”

Connie Wendleton

Artwork by Johnny MacPhail

Artwork by John Dell For anyone who’s been having a little cosplay withdraw, Blue Morning Gallery is featuring some of your favorite pop culture characters in its new exhibition, “The Art of Pensacon.”

Since the first convention took over Pensacola with costumes and comics last February, it seems that Pensacon has made a lasting effect on the arts and entertainment community.

“We were having such a good time during Pensacon weekend seeing all of the costumes during Gallery Night that one of our artists, Jim Sweida, decided to contact Pensacon staff and see about doing a show,” said Connie Wendleton, president of Blue Morning Gallery.

“The Art of Pensacon” is a different type of art exhibition for Blue Morning Gallery— or any gallery for that matter—as it presents convention culture in a downtown art gallery.

A fan of Wonder Woman for years, Wendleton said she’s excited to see some comic book art, as well as introduce the July 31, 2014

gallery to a whole new set of artists and viewers.

“We’ve had guest artists before, but never had this kind of show before,” she said. “It’s a real breakout. I’m excited.

I’ve been reading comics since I was old enough to know what those little bubbles said. I still have some of my ‘Wonder Woman’ comics.”

“The Art of Pensacon” will feature four artists: two visiting comic book artists and two local painters.

John Dell, based in Louisiana and from the Escambia County area, has been working in the comic book industry since 1986 working with smaller, independent companies and then transitioning to Marvel and DC Comics. He’s worked on well-known titles such as “Superman,” “Batman” and “Guardians of the Galaxy.”

Mitch Byrd, from Mississippi, has lent his distinct style to titles such as “Green Lantern,” “Spawn” and more. He currently works for 3 Alarm Comics and was the selected artist for the Pensacon 2015 logo.

Pensacola-based painters Johnny MacPhail and Ashley Waner were both volunteers during Pensacon weekend.

The convention was an inspiration for Waner’s art, which is typically nature-based.

“It made me feel empowered to do what I wanted to do,” she said. “All of the different

it home—and bridge that gap between types of art comic books and art,” she said.

I saw were As comics are re-imagined through inspiring.” reboots, movies and TV shows, “The Art of When Pensacon” also introduces timeless characshe was contacted for the ters through a different outlet.

“The exhibit gives the characters a fresh, show, Waner new take for younger generations to reach immediately back into the past,” she said. “It’s a glimpse went to work into a different world.” on several The art also gives a fresh, new take for paintings ingallery viewers. cluding Jack “I would hope that we see new faces,” Nicholson Wendleton said. “The idea of any art gallery as The Joker can seem so stodgy, but we are one of the from the 1989 movie “Batman” and Kit Harfriendliest.” ington in his famous role of Jon Snow from But a different kind of art on the guest the HBO series “Game of Thrones.” Those artist wall could be just the thing to invite two paintings will likely be her picks to show. kids of all ages into the gallery.

MacPhail will have two oil-based paint“Comic art speaks to the child in all of us ings in the show—portraits of the popular and makes us feel young,” Wendleton added.

“X-Men” character Wolverine and of every“You see and think of things differently.” one’s favorite meth-dealing teacher, Walter This won’t be the last collaboration beWhite, from “Breaking Bad.” tween Blue Morning Gallery and Pensacon.

“It should be a pretty interesting exWendleton hinted about another event hibit,” he said. “I hope it shows that there scheduled for the fall. are other artists in Pensacola that don’t just During the next Gallery Night on Aug. 15, do beach paintings.” you can expect the kind of fanfare that PenWhile comic books can easily be disresacon does best, with some costumed chargarded as a form of art, Waner said comics acters and a lot of fun. All of the involved are just as much a medium as painting or artists will be at the gallery for the event. sculpting. In fact, they’re referred to as the But outside of the convention world, ninth art in France. would the artists be willing to show their true “There are a lot of world problems nerd status in cosplay? reflected in comics, which make them relat“In a heartbeat,” Waner said. “Wouldn’t able,” Waner said. “In a way, the artist is saying how they want the world to be through be a question.” {in} their comic.”

The artist said she hopes that visitors to the show will view comic book and comic book-inspired art differently. As a fan of comic book WHEN: Now—Aug. 23 culture, Waner said she already has WHERE: Blue Morning Gallery, 21 S. Palafox notes and sketches done for future COST: Free comic-book inspired pieces.

DETAILS: 429-9100 or bluemorninggallery.com “I hope that they find an image they relate to—take that image, take

THE ART OF PENSACON

17

calendar ing from costumed Living History interpreters every Friday and Saturday in Historic Pensacola Village.

Demonstrations are included with admission. Tickets for the Village are available at 205 E. Zaragoza St. $6 adults, $5 AAA, Senior Citizen 65+ and Active Military, $3 children ages 4-16. historicpensacola.org

THURSDAY 7.31

“HOW NOT TO COOK” AT SO GOURMET Noon-

1 p.m. Turn off your stove and learn how to cook a delicious meal without heating up the kitchen in this special summer-inspired class and lunch. Featured dishes are cucumber and avocado soup, crab salad on raw onion bread, Southwest quinoa salad, and tropical dairyfree ice cream. $35 per person. 407 S. Palafox St. sogourmetpensacola.com WINE TASTING AT AWM 5 p.m. Try something new every week at Aragon Wine Market’s regular wine tasting, only a few blocks from downtown. 27 S. 9th Ave. aragonwinemarket.com EVENINGS IN OLDE SEVILLE SQUARE 6:309:30 p.m. For the final Evenings in Old Seville Square concert of the summer, the free series presents a special two act show with Dueling Pianos and The Modern Eldorados. Seville Square, 311 E. Government St. eveningsinoldesevillesquare.com “THE SOUND OF MUSIC” AT PLT 7:30 p.m.

The Pensacola Little Theatre presents a production of one of the world’s most beloved musicals based on the true story of The Von Trapp Family Singers. PLT’s Mainstage Theatre in the Pensacola Cultural Center, 400 S. Jefferson St. Tickets are $14-$30. pensacolalittletheatre.com DJ SAFEKO 9:30 p.m. With DJ Turnicut.

Sluggo’s Vegetarian Restaurant, 101 S. Jefferson St. ENDI ELLIS 9:30 p.m. With The Helvetica Effect, Cathercist, and Viridian Suns. The

JOY HOLLAND OPEN STUDIO SUMMER RESIDENCY 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Each

Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. $5. Ages 18 and over. pensacolahandlebar.com

FRIDAY 8.1

LIVING HISTORY IN HISTORIC PENSACOLA VILLAGE 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Learn cooking

techniques and trade-skills of the past such as sewing, basket weaving and wood work-

Friday from July 11 through Aug. 5, The Art Gallery (TAG) at the University of West Florida invites the public to join Joy Holland in open studio time. Visitors can watch and ask questions about her creative process and her work. The work created will be exhibited Aug. 5-28.

This is the first of an annual residency project TAG intends to offer to a local artist each summer. UWF Pensacola Campus in The Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Building 82. tag82uwf.wordpress.com WINE TASTING AT CITY GROCERY 5-7 p.m. Out and about in East Hill on Friday night? Stop by City Grocery for their free weekly wine tasting before settling in or heading out for the night. 2050 N. 12th Ave. WINE TASTING AT SEVILLE QUARTER 5-7 p.m.

“Try it for free, buy it for less” during weekly wine tastings at the Gift Shoppe at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com

‘A more equal Pensacola’

by Jennifer Leigh

Since kicking off the first Pensacola LGBT Film Festival in 2012, the nonprofit event has been growing as the overall support for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community continues to grow in the panhandle and beyond.

But with growth comes cost, and to help sustain the free event, film festival organizers are asking for support to an

818 1

Indiegogo campaign. The goal is set at $10,000 and ends August 2.

“We know Pensacola has come a long way in the past few years, but we still have an uphill battle on the road to equality,” said one of the festival founders, Sara Latshaw in the campaign video. “This film festival is just one way that our community can come together to show that we are welcoming and ready for a more equal Pensacola.”

Latshaw, who is also the North Florida Regional Director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has said the event is not specifically for the LGBT community, but “for the entire community.”

“The Pensacola LGBT Film Festival is a great experience for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities,” added volunteer Jess O'Leary.

“The films we select show not only LGBT stories, but human stories. Everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation, can enjoy our festival.”

The festival has been a huge community effort with volunteers and interns

contributing to the event’s success.

Volunteers O’Leary and Christin Campbell helped Latshaw get the Indiegogo campaign off the ground to ensure that the festival can continue to be free to everyone. Funds will also go towards a website.

“There has been a lot of support and good feedback from the community so far, which is always wonderful to hear.

With the film festival, we hope to show that Pensacola is a welcoming city that is ready for progress,” O'Leary said.

Incentives such as t-shirts, VIP tickets and the chance to be a juror are included in the campaign. Donations of any increment help fund the event.

“Anyone can help fund the Pensacola LGBT Film Festival with the click of a button. It's an easy and accessible way to get involved,” said O'Leary. {in}

SUPPORT THE PENSACOLA LGBT FILM FESTIVAL

Visit indiegogo.com/projects/pensacola-lgbt-film-festival-2014

“BIG: THE MUSICAL” 7:30 p.m. Pensacola State College’s 24th annual Summer High School Onstage Workshop (SHOW) presents a lighthearted, musical adaptation of the blockbuster movie “Big,” starring Tom Hanks, the story of 12-year-old Josh Baskin, who grows up overnight after being granted a wish by a an arcade machine at a carnival. All tickets are $16. Ashmore Fine Arts Auditorium, 1000 College Blvd., Building 8. pensacolastate.edu/mt “THE SOUND OF MUSIC” AT PLT 7:30 p.m.

The Pensacola Little Theatre presents a production of one of the world’s most beloved musicals based on the true story of The Von Trapp Family Singers. PLT’s Mainstage Theatre in the Pensacola Cultural Center, 400 S. Jefferson St. Tickets are $14-$30. pensacolalittletheatre.com BETSY BADWATER 8 p.m. With Denton Hatcher & The Soapbox Blues and Izzy Cox. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. $5. vinylmusichall.com FORCED ORDER 9:30 p.m. With Malice at the Palace and Point Blank. Sluggo’s Vegetarian Restaurant, 101 S. Jefferson St. MOTHERSHIP/THE HOUSE HARKONNEN 10 p.m. With Transmute and Wulfshroud. The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. $8. Ages 18 and over. pensacolahandlebar.com

SATURDAY 8.2

PALAFOX MARKET 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Fresh pro-

duce, live plants, baked goods, fine art and antiques are just a few of the items offered at Palafox Market in Downtown Pensacola.

Items originate directly from participating vendors, including dozens of local farmers, home gardeners and area artists.

Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, N. Palafox St. palafoxmarket.com UKULELE CLASS 9:30 a.m. The Pensacola Ukulele Players Society (PUPS) meets every Saturday morning at Blues Angel Music, offering free ukulele lessons for both beginners and seasoned musicians. Loaner ukuleles are available for the sessions, which usually last an hour. Blues Angel Music, 657 N. Pace Blvd. bluesangelmusic.com FREE SOGO SAMPLE SATURDAY TIPS & TECHNIQUES Noon-2 p.m. So Gourmet,

407 S. Palafox St. sogourmetpensacola.com THE 12th AVENUE FLEA Noon-5 p.m. The 12th Avenue Flea is a local community "flea" style market in the heart of East Hill featuring local artists, vendors, crafters, upcyclers, pickers, farmers and cooks. The market is held weekly outside the historic former Sacred Heart Hospital, now Tower East Office Complex. 1010 N. 12th Ave. facebook.com/12thAveFlea PENSACOLA BAY BREWERY TOUR 3:30 p.m. Go behind the scenes at Pensacola’s own brewery with Brewmaster Mark Robertson. Tours begin in the Taproom and include samples for those ages 21 and over. No reservations required. $5. 225 E. Zaragoza St. pbbrew.com “KING KONG” 7 p.m. The Saenger’s Classic Movie Series continues with a showing of “King Kong,” which debuted in 1933. All seats are $5. Saenger Theatre, 118 South Palafox Pl. pensacolasaenger.com inweekly.net

calendar “BIG: THE MUSICAL” 7:30 p.m. Pensacola State College’s 24th annual Summer High School Onstage Workshop (SHOW) presents a lighthearted, musical adaptation of the blockbuster movie “Big,” starring Tom Hanks, the story of 12-year-old Josh Baskin, who grows up overnight after being granted a wish by a an arcade machine at a carnival. All tickets are $16. Ashmore Fine Arts Auditorium, 1000 College Blvd., Building 8. pensacolastate.edu/mt “THE SOUND OF MUSIC” AT PLT 7:30 p.m.

The Pensacola Little Theatre presents a production of one of the world’s most beloved musicals based on the true story of The Von Trapp Family Singers. PLT’s Mainstage Theatre in the Pensacola Cultural Center, 400 S. Jefferson St. Tickets are $14-$30. pensacolalittletheatre.com LOWELECTRIC 8 p.m. With Electroveldt.

Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. $5. vinylmusichall.com BETSY BADWATER 9:45 p.m. With Ms. Izzy Cox, Denton Hatcher & The Soapbox Blues.

The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. $5.

Ages 18 and over. pensacolahandlebar.com

SUNDAY 8.3

WAKE UP HIKE 7 a.m. The Western Gate

Chapter of the Florida Trail Association will lead a brisk, one-hour long walk from St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church at 12th Avenue and Anderson Street in Pensacola, followed by a breakfast with the group. For more information, contact Trudy at 4348861 or visit meetup.com/ftawesterngate.

SHOP SUNDAY IN DOWNTOWN PENSACOLA

11 a.m.-4 p.m. The Downtown Improvement Board and Downtown businesses present “Shop Sunday,” a monthly event that invites the community to shop and dine along music filled streets and enjoy special offers from participating businesses. downtownpensacola.com/shop-sunday “BIG: THE MUSICAL” 2:30 p.m. Pensacola State College’s 24th annual Summer High School Onstage Workshop (SHOW) presents a lighthearted, musical adaptation of the blockbuster movie “Big,” starring Tom Hanks, the story of 12-year-old Josh Baskin, who grows up overnight after being granted a wish by a an arcade machine at a carnival. All tickets are $16.

Ashmore Fine Arts Auditorium, 1000 College Blvd., Building 8. pensacolastate.edu/mt “THE SOUND OF MUSIC” AT PLT 2:30 p.m.

The Pensacola Little Theatre presents a production of one of the world’s most beloved musicals based on the true story of The Von Trapp Family Singers. PLT’s Mainstage Theatre in the Pensacola Cultural Center, 400 S. Jefferson St. Tickets are $14-$30. pensacolalittletheatre.com BLUES ON THE BAY 5-7 p.m. Studebaker John performs at this week’s “Blues on the Bay” concert, a free summer concert series presented by Blues Angel Music and the City of Pensacola. Free performances will be held each Sunday the Blue Wahoos are not playing at home. Randall K. and Martha H. Hunter Amphitheater at the Community Maritime Park, 301 W. Main St. pensacolacommunitymaritimepark.com July 31, 2014

Ears & Fingers

by Jason Leger

Jenny Lewis "THE VOYAGER"

“The Queen of Indie Rock.” It has a nice ring to it, no? With the time, output, collaborations, proximal relations and moxie she has given us, I would say that Jenny Lewis has more than earned the title. That’s not even mentioning the fact that she was the face of one of the genre’s seminal bands, Rilo Kiley.

It’s been almost four years since we’ve heard anything properly released from Ms. Lewis. In fact, one more month and it would be to the day since she and her boyfriend, Johnathan Rice, released their first album as Jenny & Johnny. Before that, her first two solo albums, “Rabbit Fur Coat,” which preceded Rilo Kiley’s hiatus and “Acid Tongue,” which came a year after, showed us that she would not have to live in the shadow of her former

MONDAY 8.4

SEAWAY 9 p.m. With Stillframe, Wound Up, 10th Inning, and Loose Bolts. The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. $5. Ages 18 and over without parent or guardian. pensacolahandlebar.com

TUESDAY 8.5

BLUE ANGELS PRACTICE 11:30 a.m. Weather permitting the Blue Angels will hold practice most Tuesday and Wednesday mornings from March to November at NAS Pensacola. The practice sessions can be watched from a viewing area at the National Naval Aviation Museum. Admission is free and open to the public. 1750 Radford Blvd., NAS Pensacola. navalaviationmuseum.org SUMMER RESTAURANT WEEK 5 p.m. The Fish House, Jackson's Steakhouse and Atlas Oyster House are once again teaming up to present Summer Restaurant Week, Tuesday, August 5-Saturday, August 9.

Chefs from each restaurant will prepare a three-course, fixed-price dinner menu utilizing the best in local and seasonal

band. In fact, she may not have needed that platform at all.

This month, she shows us another side of herself—a much more vulnerable side. Lewis’ new album, “The Voyager,” speaks very plainly, for the first time, about the breakup of Rilo Kiley, the subsequent (or maybe preceding) breakup with guitarist Blake Sennett and the death of her mostly absent father. For some of the songs, she doesn’t make the message obvious. Several tracks are more upbeat than their lyrical counterparts might insist. To realize this, one doesn’t really have to look very far beyond the very first track. ‘Head Underwater’ is a lively track about mortality and realizing how much control one may have over it. ‘Love U Forever’ places a gigantic question mark over the ideas of monogamy and marriage, ironically enough though, considering the composition, we may be more likely to expect a song about a fling. Even as lively and whimsical as the lead single, ‘One of the Guys’ may seem, there is a very vulnerable theme lurking underneath it.

“There's only one difference between you and me: When I look at myself all I can see, I'm just another lady without a baby.”

I remember hearing that line for the first time and feeling the sting for her, as much as a man can empathize. She is nearly 40, and one of the things that our society still deems as proper for a woman, namely motherhood, is out of her grasp right now.

ingredients, for $33 per person, per restaurant. Diners are encouraged to try each special menu at all three restaurants during Restaurant Week. greatsouthernrestaurants.com STRUT YOUR MUTT 6:45 p.m. Join fellow dog owners for a 45-minute leisurely stroll in East Hill. Dogs must be leashed and well-behaved. Owners should be prepared to pick up after the pets. Meet at the entrance of Bayview Park, 20th Ave. and E. Mallory St. TUESDAY NIGHT POETRY NIGHT AT SLUGGO’S 7 p.m. Free open mic poetry

event every Tuesday. Sluggo’s Vegetarian Restaurant, 101 S. Jefferson St. facebook. com/TNPNS BANDS ON THE BEACH 7 p.m Déjà vu perform at this week’s Bands on the Beach concert, part of a free summer series featuring regional artists held every Tuesday night through October 1. Gulfside Pavilion at Casino Beach, 735 Pensacola Beach Blvd. visitpensacolabeach.com

WEDNESDAY 8.6

WEDNESDAY PALAFOX MARKET 4-7 p.m.

This adds a bare bones level of realism to an artist who is very accomplished, but somewhat guarded on a lot of issues. This is not to say that the album is as personal as it is relatively inviting. Lewis doesn’t want pity as much as empathy. This is why she broadens her scope to include tragedies we can all relate to, like 9/11 and the Challenger explosion. The title actually serves as an allusion to the latter.

Ultimately, “The Voyager” stands alone in the scope of Lewis’ musical output to this point as a very strong and moving statement. It’s been a bit of a wait, but if time better equips her to produce this way, I would say it’s more than worthwhile. “The Voyager” is out now via Warner Brothers Records.

TRACK OF THE WEEK:

The New Pornographers ‘War on the East Coast’

When a group is comprised of songwriting giants like A.C. Newman, Neko Case and Dan Bejar, the hits will proverbially keep coming. Last week, the band released ‘War on the East Coast’ from its upcoming album “Brill Bruisers,” with Bejar at the helm. The track stands alone compared to its much brighter title track predecessor.

Check it out on YouTube or wherever you stream music. “Brill Bruisers” will be out Aug. 26 via Matador. {in}

In addition to the weekly Saturday Palafox Market, now in its seventh season, the Downtown Improvement Board (DIB) and Palafox Market Committee are holding an additional market every Wednesday through September. The mid-week market will offer similar items to the Saturday market, including fresh flowers, produce, meat & poultry, baked goods and artwork.

Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, N. Palafox St. palafoxmarket.com SPY VALLEY WINE TASTING 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Blair Gibbs of New Zealand’s Spy Valley Wines is visiting Seville Quarter to conduct a tasting of the label’s (his family’s) wines.

Chef Brandon Melton will prepare appetizers to pair with the selected Spy Valley wines. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 on the day of the event, and are available in Seville’s Gift Shoppe. Apple Annie’s at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com BLUE WAHOOS BASEBALL 6:30 p.m. HiChew Wednesday: games, prizes and Kids Run the Bases after the game. Pensacola Bayfront Stadium, 351 W. Cedar St. bluewahoos.com 19

calendar bars & nightlife ≥bar games

Fridays DRAG BINGO 6-8 p.m.

Ages 21 and over. Emerald City’s The Other Side, 406 E. Wright St. emeraldcitypensacola. com

Mondays TEXAS HOLD ‘EM FOR FUN AND TRIVIA 7

p.m. The Sandshaker Lounge, 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd. sandshaker.com TRIVIA NIGHT 7—9 p.m. World of Beer, 200 S. Palafox. wobusa. com/locations/Palafox BAR BINGO 8 p.m.

Apple Annie’s at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter. com Tuesdays TUESDAY TRIVIA 8 p.m.

The Bridge Bar and Sunset Lounge, 33 Gulf Breeze Pkwy. facebook. com/thebridgebargb DRAG BINGO 10 p.m.Midnight. Ages 18 and over. Emerald City’s The Other Side, 406 E. Wright St. emeraldcitypensacola.com Wednesdays PUB TRIVIA NIGHT

7-9:30 p.m. Goat Lips Beer Garden, 2811 Copter Road. facebook. com/goatlipsdeli WEDNESDAY QUIZ TRIVIA 8 p.m. The

Cabaret, 101 S. Jefferson St. cabaretpen-

arts & culture ≥exhibits

“THE ART OF PENSACON” Through

August 26, “The Art of Pensacon,” featuring the work of comic book artists Mitch Byrd, John Dell, Johnny MacPhall, and Ashley Waner will be on display. The show is sponsored

by Pensacon, the Pensacola-based fan convention, which will hold its second annual event February 27-Mar 1, 2015. MondayWednesday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thursday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m., and Sunday, 12:30-4 p.m. Blue Morning Gallery, 21 S. Palafox. bluemorninggallery. com

“THE ART OF THE BRICK” New York-

based artist Nathan Sawaya’s large-scale 020 2

sacola.com

TEAM TRIVIA 8 p.m.

Hopjacks. 10 S. Palafox. hopjacks.com

≥karaoke Thursdays

VFW Post 706, 6 p.m.

5000 Lillian Hwy. vfw706.org Lili Marlene’s at Seville Quarter, 8 p.m. 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com The Cabaret, 9 p.m. 101 S. Jefferson St. cabaretpensacola.com Hub Stacey’s At the Point, 9 p.m. 5851 Galvez Rd. hubstaceys. com S aturdays Hub Stacey’s Downtown, 9 p.m. 312 E. Government St. hubstaceys.com Sundays

Lili Marlene’s at Seville Quarter, 8 p.m. 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com The Sandshaker Lounge, 9 p.m. 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd. sandshaker.com Mondays

The Cabaret, 9 p.m.

101 S. Jefferson St. 607-2020 or cabaretpensacola.com Tuesdays

The Sandshaker Lounge, 8 p.m. 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd. sandshaker.com Play, 9 p.m. 16 S. Palafox, Suite 200. iplaypensacola.com

≥live music sculptures created out of iconic LEGO® bricks form the exhibition “The Art of the Brick,” a traveling exhibit that is currently, for the first time, displayed in the Pensacola area. “The Art of the Brick” will be open through Aug. 8; tickets for the exhibition are $12 for adults and $8 for children.

Free Tuesdays will be suspended during “The Art of the Brick.”

Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, 1-5 p.m. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org

“JOY HOLLAND OPEN STUDIO SUMMER RESIDENCY” Beginning

Tuesday, August 5, the exhibit for The Art Gallery (TAG) at the University of West Florida’s first annual residency project with artist Joy Holland

THURSDAY 7.31

AL MARTIN 6 p.m.

The Piano Bar, Quality Inn, 7601 Scenic Highway. facebook.com/ QualityInnScenicHwy DAVE AND JOE SHOW

6-10 p.m. Peg Leg Pete’s, 1010 Ft. Pickens Road. peglegpetes. com

THE DAVENPORTS

6 p.m. The Leisure Club, 126 S. Palafox. tlcdowntown.com

LUCAS CRUTCHFIELD

6 p.m. The Deck at The Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St. fishhouse. goodgrits.com TIMBERHAWK 7 p.m.

Hub Stacey's Downtown, 312 E. Government St. hubstaceys. com GYPSY GROOVE 7:30 p.m. Picasso Jazz Club, 19 S. Palafox. picassojazz.com DUELLING PIANO SHOW 8 p.m. Rosie

O’ Grady’s at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com HIPPIE RADIO 8 p.m.-midnight. The Sandshaker Lounge, 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd. sandshaker.com STRANGE ROUX 9 p.m. End o’ the Alley at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com DJ MR. LAO 10 p.m.

Phineas Phogg’s at Seville Quarter, 130

opens. The works on display were created during open studio time in preceding weeks which was open to visitors, who were able to watch and ask Holland questions about her creative process. TuesdayFriday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Saturday, Noon-4 p.m. UWF Pensacola Campus in The Center for Fine and Performing Arts (CFPA), Building 82. All TAG events are free and open to the public. tag82uwf. wordpress.com “JUXTAPOSITION”

The exhibit “Juxtaposition” featuring works created by “placing two dissimilar objects (dark and light, old and new, conventional and edgy, etc.) next to each other to create irony, humor, discussions or controversy,” is on display through August

E. Government St. sevillequarter.com

FRIDAY 8.1

LUCAS CRUTCHFIELD

5 p.m. The Deck at The Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St. fishhouse. goodgrits.com AL MARTIN 6 p.m. The Piano Bar, Quality Inn, 7601 Scenic Highway. facebook.com/QualityInnScenicHwy THIRD ANNUAL BREEZER’S REUNION MUSIC FEST 6 p.m.

Featuring Loaded Goat & The Skydogs.

Paradise Bar & Grill, 21 Via De Luna Drive. paradisebar-grill.com KNEE DEEP BAND 7 p.m. Hub Stacey’s At the Point, 5851 Galvez Rd. hubstaceys.com JOEY ALLRED 7:30 p.m.

Picasso Jazz Club, 19 S. Palafox. picassojazz. com DUELLING PIANO SHOW 8 p.m. Rosie

O’ Grady’s at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com THE BLENDERS 8:30 p.m. Hub Stacey’s Downtown, 312 E. Government St. hubstaceys.com DJ ORLANDO RICARDO 9 p.m. Emerald

City, 406 E. Wright St. emeraldcitypensacola. com GRAND THEFT AUDIO

9 p.m.-2:30 a.m. Apple Annie’s at Seville

29. Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free admission. Artel Gallery, 223 S. Palafox, Old County Courthouse. artelgallery.org “PENSACOLA: AN ARTIST’S PERSPECTIVE” The work of

artists Manuel Rivas, Kate Owens, and Dan Baradon will be on display in, “Pensacola: An Artist’s Perspective,” through September 1. Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, 1-5 p.m.

Quayside Art Gallery, 17 E. Zaragoza St. Free admission. quaysidegallery.com

“PORTRAIT A DAY”

Artist Cleopatra Redbird challenged herself to draw at least one portrait each day for the past month, and the fruits of her efforts will be on display through the month of August.

Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com STRANGE ROUX 9 p.m. End o’ the Alley at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com

SATURDAY 8.2

AL MARTIN 6 p.m. The

Piano Bar, Quality Inn, 7601 Scenic Highway. facebook.com/QualityInnScenicHwy

THIRD ANNUAL BREEZER’S REUNION MUSIC FEST 6 p.m.

Featuring The Skydogs and Friends with a special tribute to Shawn Curle and Michael Bennett. Paradise Bar & Grill, 21 Via De Luna Drive. paradisebargrill.com THE BLENDERS 7 p.m.

Hub Stacey’s At the Point, 5851 Galvez Rd. hubstaceys.com JOEY ALLRED 7:30 p.m.

Picasso Jazz Club, 19 S. Palafox. picassojazz. com DUELLING PIANO SHOW 8 p.m. Rosie

O’ Grady’s at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com DJ JAY-R 9 p.m. Emerald City, 406 E. Wright St. emeraldcitypensacola.com DJ MR. LAO 9 p.m.

Phineas Phogg’s at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com

Saturdays, Noon-3 p.m. 512 Gallery, 512 E. Gadsden St. facebook. com/512gallery

≥classes

CRAFT WORKSHOP FOR KIDS 10 a.m.-

Noon, Saturday, August 2. Kids ages 7-10 are invited to join photographer Debbie Del Tejo as she transforms “ordinary things” into works of art each Saturday through August 9. $20 per child, per session; all workshop materials are included. Space is limited to 10 children.

Blue Morning Gallery, 21 S. Palafox. To make a reservation, visit: bluemorninggallery. com/classes.

“MAKE-YOUR-OWNGLASS” CLASS 10

a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, August 2. First City Art Center offers weekly “Make-YourOwn-Glass” classes

9 p.m.-2:30 a.m. Apple Annie’s at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com STRANGE ROUX 9 p.m. End o’ the Alley at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com

TAVERN 9 p.m. Bands, individual musicians, comedians, poets, and other artists are invited to participate in the weekly open mic sessions known as "Monday Night Jams."

Admission is free. 710 N. Palafox St. bigeasytavern.com

SUNDAY 8.3

TUESDAY 8.5

GRAND THEFT AUDIO

THIRD ANNUAL BREEZER’S REUNION MUSIC FEST 3 p.m.

Featuring Loaded Goat. Paradise Bar & Grill, 21 Via De Luna Drive. paradisebargrill.com

JOHN JOYNER AND NICK BRANCH 4 p.m.

Hub Stacey’s At the Point, 5851 Galvez Rd. hubstaceys.com DJ JAY-R 9 p.m. Emerald City, 406 E. Wright St. emeraldcitypensacola.com GREG LYON 9 p.m.

End o’ the Alley at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com BROOKS HUBBERT 10 p.m. McGuire's Irish Pub, 600 E. Gregory St. mcguiresirishpub.com

MONDAY 8.4

BLUES SOCIETY OF NORTHWEST FLORIDA’S MONDAY NIGHT BLUES 8 p.m.

Lili Marlene’s at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com

BISCUIT MILLER & THE MIX 6 p.m. Paradise

Bar & Grill, 21 Via De Luna Drive. paradisebar-grill.com

LUCAS CRUTCHFIELD

6 p.m. The Deck at The Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St. fishhouse. goodgrits.com NO WRONG NOTES JAZZ NIGHT 6-9 p.m.

Head to 5 ½ Bar for an evening of live, freeranging, experimental jazz played by local musicians. NoWrongNotes Jazz Night is on every Tuesday, unless there's a concert at Vinyl Music Hall. 5 E. Garden St. facebook. com/5.5bar.

TUESDAY JAZZ JAM: THE GINO ROSARIA QUARTET 6:30 p.m.

Lili Marlene’s at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com MIKE QUINN 9 p.m.

End o’ the Alley Courtyard at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com

OPEN MIC AT BIG EASY

WEDNESDAY 8.6

from that include glass ornament, flower, paperweight, and vase making; prices range from $25-$100, depending on the class, all of which are open to ages 8 and over.

First City Art Center, 1060 N. Guillemard St. firstcityart.org

information, including a list of needed supplies for the class, visit: bluemorninggallery. com/classes.

WATERCOLOR PAINTING WITH LYDA TOY

1-3 p.m. Sunday, August 3. Artist and Faculty Associate of Art at the University of West Florida Lyda Toy teaches a weekly class on watercolor painting with a fun approach and relaxed studio atmosphere. $25 per class. Reservations are required one day prior to the class, at the latest, and can be made by calling 455-5471 or e-mailing ltoy@uwf.edu. Blue Morning Gallery, 21 S. Palafox. For more

DRAWING WITH JOSEPH SMITH 10 a.m.

to 1 p.m. Wednesday, August 6. Instructor Joseph Smith teaches a drawing class geared for beginners and those who simply need a refresher course for $10 per class, every other Wendesday.

Smith also teaches a life drawing class every other Saturday, open to all levels of experience. The fee for life drawing class is $25 per month. The next life drawing class will be Saturday, August 9 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Artel Gallery, 223 S. Palafox, Old County

LUCAS CRUTCHFIELD

5 p.m. The Deck at The Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St. fishhouse. goodgrits.com HOUSE, TECHNO, AND TRANCE 6-9 p.m. Kam

Sator mixes a laid back set of old and new styles of trance, house, and techno at 5 ½ Bar each Wednesday, unless there is a concert at Vinyl Music Hall. 5 E. Garden St. facebook.com/5.5bar.

FOLK MUSIC NIGHT 7 p.m. End of the Line Café, 610 E. Wright St. eotlcafe.com JAZZ JAM WITH PICASSO’S HOUSE BAND

7 p.m. Picasso Jazz Club, 19 S. Palafox. picassojazz.com

JOHN JOYNER AND NICK BRANCH 7 p.m.

Hub Stacey’s At the Point, 5851 Galvez Rd. hubstaceys.com TIMBERHAWK 7 p.m.

Hub Stacey's Downtown, 312 E. Government St. hubstaceys. com DUELLING PIANOS 8 p.m. Rosie O’ Grady’s at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com DJ JAY-R 9 p.m. Emerald City, 406 E. Wright St. emeraldcitypensacola.com MIKE QUINN 9 p.m.

End o’ the Alley Courtyard at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com

Courthouse. artelgallery.org

≥call to artists

“RETRO” AT ARTEL GALLERY For its up-

coming exhibit, Artel Gallery is encouraging artists take something nostalgic or old fashioned—focusing on the time period of the 1940s to the 1980s— and create a new art piece with the “retro” look using experimental techniques and/or media. Drop off is August 30, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. and August 31, 1-4 p.m. at Artel Gallery. The show will be on exhibit September 2-October 17, 2014. Artel Gallery, 223 S. Palafox, Old County Courthouse. artelgallery.org

for more listings visit inweekly.net inweekly.net

DIFFERENCE MAKERS Pensacola Chamber Foundation Discusses Regional Prosperity In an effort to engage its stakeholders in an open dialogue about the importance of global competitiveness and building a vibrant community, the Pensacola Chamber Foundation welcomed representatives from the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Florida Chamber Foundation, who presented the Six Pillars community plan for regional and economic prosperity.

The event – which took place at Gulf Power Company’s Addison Auditorium – featured Mark Wilson, the president of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, and Tony Carvajal, the president of the Florida Chamber Foundation, who together discussed key community-related issues from plan, such as education, innovation, infrastructure, business competitiveness, governance systems and quality of life.

“The Pensacola Chamber Foundation’s vision for our region encompasses fostering the growth and success of local businesses and creating jobs that can sustain long-term economic growth within our communities,” said Pensacola Chamber Foundation Executive Director Jerry Maygarden. “This plan provides a framework for communities to develop their own economic goals and serves as an outline that will allow them to enhance their community for generations to come.”

The strategic plan is a product of years of collaboration and research by the Florida Chamber Foundation, the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Florida Chamber Political Operations. The community plan outlines a strategy for economic growth and incorporates the work of a diverse range of stakeholders, including Century Commission for a Sustainable Future, Florida Council of 100, Enterprise Florida, Florida State University System, CareerSource Florida and 1000 Friends of Florida, among others.

“It is the goal of the Pensacola Chamber Foundation to build a healthier, better-educated workforce, while continuing to advance our region’s competitive economic positioning,” said KC Etheredge, Vice President of Advancement for the Pensacola Chamber Foundation. “By improving our community’s infrastructure and focusing on small business development, our community will be able to aggressively recruit new business, help existing businesses expand and leverage strong partnerships that will continue to stimulate economic growth.”

About the Pensacola Chamber Foundation: The Pensacola Chamber Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to drive economic prosperity and enhance the quality of life in Greater Pensacola by taking a long-term, strategic approach to regional growth and community building. Its goal is to build a healthier, better-educated workforce; to continue to advance the region’s competitive economic positioning; and to improve community infrastructure by focusing on strengthening special economic interests within the region, on small business development, on minority initiatives, and on military support services. For additional information, please visit www.PensacolaChamber.com.

Sponsored by Quint and Rishy Studer July 31, 2014

21

music

by Jessica Forbes

Double Down with Betsy Badwater people or atmosphere over the other.

“I think both shows are going to be very unique and special,” she added.

Badwater’s previous tour and/or recording mates, Miss Izzy Cox from Austin—whose Facebook genre listing summarizes her style as “outlaw Americana hellbilly steampunk anarchist crooner”—and the fellow Americana-focused Denton Hatcher & The Soapbox Blues, hailing from Baton Rouge, will open at each Pensacola show.

The three sharing a bill is becoming a tradition of sorts for the friends and collaborators who met several years ago and haven’t really shaken each other since.

In August 2013, Badwater released her third album, “Hometown Money,” and embarked on a breakneck, one-and-a-half month, 52-date tour across the South with Cox, Hatcher and his band mates Scott Sibley and Cody Ruth. The lineup worked out, as Hatcher and Sibley played on “Hometown Money,” recorded at The Music Shed Recording Studio in New Orleans.

“I write primarily in the winter time and travel in the summer, but I'm always into something,” Badwater told the IN. “If I learned anything about myself on last year’s summer tour…it's that I am made for the road. I love it,” Badwater stated.

“I'll definitely do a long run again next year, but I'm booked for months at Black Sparrow Tattoo Studio where I work here in town, so this year we are going to do a bit lighter run this summer.”

After the Pensacola opener, Badwater will hit the road for a string of one-man-band (OMB) shows with Cox—who remembered their past experiences as women on the road together, “We carried claw-hammers and

me free from guitar for about 6 months so that I could focus on and grow my vocal instrument beyond my dreams.” The two also wrote 10 songs together after Badwater’s fall 2013 tour, a happening that is part of a writingand-touring cycle she’s worked to set after 15 years of performing.

“I've been trying to manifest this flow for about 5 years now, and it's finally starting to happen” she said.

“In all of my shows, I want to inspire my friends out there listening to participate with me,” she stated. “I choose songs that invite them to laugh, cry, dance, feel some kind of holy spirit, get just plain angry, be quietly honest, and find a heartbeat of forgiveness within themselves, and of course, I'm all about the love—falling in love with ourselves, everyone in the room, the stranger next to you, being in love with a moment.” {in}

“I'm all about the love—falling in love with ourselves, everyone in the room, the stranger next to you, being in love with a moment.” Betsy Badwater

press photo Pensacola’s own blues-soul-rockabilly specialist Betsy Badwater spent much of the first half of 2014 raising funds for local flood relief, writing new songs and honing her vocal chops even further. To mark the start of a new season and fall tour, Badwater will play two hometown shows, one on Friday, Aug. 1 at Vinyl Music Hall and another at The Handlebar on Saturday, Aug. 2.

“The Handlebar and Vinyl Music Hall are two very important and very different venues here in Pensacola,” Badwater explained of the idea behind back-to-back shows. “I love and appreciate both atmospheres and appreciate all the love and support I have enjoyed from both venues.

My friends from five states are coming to celebrate another year of music and friendship, and I couldn't choose one group of

knives and looked out for each other like very quiet bulldogs. It was constantly amusing that we were taken for either damsels or devils, depending on the onlooker”—interspersed with appearances at regional festivals.

While Badwater is known to OMB-it on the distant road (she sings and plays guitar and a tambourine-topped bass drum simultaneously), occasionally a rotating cast of musicians known as The Hillbilly Chrome take the stage WHAT: Betsy Badwater & The Hillbilly with her, which will be the case at Chrome with Miss Izzy Cox and Denton both the Vinyl and The Handlebar Hatcher & The Soapbox Blues shows. The current lineup of The WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1 Hillbilly Chrome is J.T. Tereszkiewicz WHERE: Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox on rhythm guitar, Jordan Kimsey on COST: $5 slide resonator and Ashelea Penquite INFO: vinylmusichall.com on percussion.

Like her tour mates, Badwater has nothing but love for The Hillbilly Chrome members, calling Kimsey, “one of the most talented slide guitar WHAT: Betsy Badwater & The Hillbilly players I have ever encountered” Chrome with Miss Izzy Cox and Denton and Ashelea, “a very old, dear friend Hatcher & The Soapbox Blues who accompanied me on tour several WHEN: 9:45 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2 years ago on upright bass. I'm proud WHERE: The Handlebar to have her smile and skills in the COST: $5 rhythm section.”

INFO: pensacolahandlebar.com Of guitarist Tereszkiewicz, Badwater stated: “I credit him with setting

BETSY BADWATER AT VINYL MUSIC HALL

BETSY BADWATER AT THE HANDLEBAR

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INTERNATIONALLY CERTIFIED HYPNOTHERAPIST

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inweekly.net

news of the weird CAT NANNY Facial recognition software, increasingly important to global antiterrorism operations, is being brought to ... cats. Taiwanese developer Mu-Chi Sung announced in July plans for marketing the software as part of a cat health device so that owners, especially those with multiple cats, can better monitor their cats' eating habits. Sung first had to overcome the problem of how to get the cat to stick its head through a slot in the feeder so the software can start to work. The device, with mobile apps for remote monitoring by the owner, may sell for about $250.

GOVERNMENT IN ACTION The Environmental Protection Agency is already a News of the Weird favorite (for example, the secret goofing-off "man cave" of one EPA contractor in July 2013 and, two months later, the fabulist EPA executive who skipped agency work for months by claiming falsely to be on secret CIA missions), but the agency's Denver Regional Office took it to another level in June. In a leaked memo, the Denver deputy director implored employees to end the practice of leaving feces in the office's hallway. The memo referred to "several" incidents.

• The federal food stamp program, apparently uncontrollably rife with waste, has resorted to giving financial awards to the states that misspend food stamp money the least. In July, the Florida Department of Children and Families, beaming with pride, announced it had won a federal grant of $7 million for having blown only $47 million in food stamp benefits in 2013 (less than 1 percent of its $6 billion in payments).

Vermont, the worst-performing state, misspends almost 10 percent of its food stamp benefits.

• The Way the World Works: The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration came down hard in July on West Virginia's Freedom Industries for violations of chemical safety standards in January 2014 that resulted in the 10-day contamination of drinking water for 300,000 residents.

OSHA issued two fines to the company -one for $7,000 and the other for $4,000.

GREAT ART! Ms. Milo Moire, a Swiss performance artist, startled (and puzzled) fairgoers at Germany's Art Cologne in April by creating a painting while standing on two ladders, nude and expelling "eggs," filled with paint and ink, from her vagina. Each "PlopEgg" canvas made what she called a powerful feminist statement about women, fertility and creativity. (In June, she attempted to tour Switzerland's Art Basel fair "wearing" only the names of clothing items written on her nude body, e.g., on her leg, the word "pants." Officials told her to go get dressed if she wanted to see the show.)

• Update: Critics praised bad-girl British artist Tracey Emin's 1998 furniture-

and-effects exhibit, "My Bed," supposedly representing a failed romantic relationship, featuring mussed sheets and, littering the room, empty vodka bottles and used condoms. Prominent collector Charles Saatchi turned heads when he bought the piece for the equivalent of about $200,000, and in June, almost 15 years later, he sold "My Bed" at auction for the equivalent of $4,330,000.

• In July, the large cement "Humpty Dumpty" at the Enchanted Forest in Salem, Oregon, created by Roger Tofte in 1970, was destroyed when two intruders tried to climb the wall Humpty was sitting on. However, the wall crumbled and Humpty suffered a great fall, and Tofte said he doubted he could put Humpty back together again, but would try instead to make a new one.

THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT! Sheriff's deputies in Salina, Kansas, arrested Aaron Jansen, 29, but not before he put on quite a show on July 5. Jansen, speeding in a car spray-painted with derogatory comments about law enforcement, refused to pull over and even survived a series of tire-shredding road spikes as he turned into a soybean field, where he revved the engine and drove in circles for 40 minutes. As deputies set up a perimeter, Jansen futilely tossed items from the car (blankets, CDs, anything available) and then (with the car still moving) climbed out the driver's door and briefly "surfed" on the roof. Finally, as deputies closed in, Jansen shouted a barrage of Bible verses before emerging from the car wearing a cowboy hat, boots and a woman's dress.

• The surveillance video in evidence in England's Wolverhampton Crown Court in July captured the entire caper of two young men comically failing to open a parking lot's automated cash machine five months earlier. Wearing hoods, they tried to batter the secure machine open, then tried to pull it away (but learned that it was rooted to an underground cable). Plan C involved getting in their Peugeot and ramming the machine, which did knock loose the moneydispensing part -- but also shredded part of the car's body. The dispenser (with the equivalent of $1,500 in coins) fit in the front seat only after some exhaustive pushing and cramming, but finally the men drove off -- with sparks flying as the weight of the coins made the crippled car scrape the pavement. Police arrived on the scene, and a brief chase ended when the car crashed into a wall. Final score: car totaled, money recovered and Wesley Bristow, 25, sentenced to two years in prison. {in}

A Higher Quality of Patient Care While West Florida Healthcare has earned many awards and distinctions acknowledging the outstanding medical care we provide, we are also proud of the leadership role we play in the communities we serve. On behalf of our associates, physicians and volunteers, thank you for trusting us to care for you and your loved ones. n Area’s first Accredited

Chest Pain Center n Named a “Key Performer on

Quality Measures” for two years in a row by The Joint Commission n Gold Seal of Approval as an

Advanced Primary Stroke Center

by The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association/ American Stroke Association n Get With the Guidelines

Stroke-Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award n Target: Stroke Honor Roll by the

American Heart Association/ American Stroke Association n Area’s first Breast Imaging

Center of Excellence n West Florida Rehabilitation

Institute Accredited by CARF n West Florida Sleep Disorders

Center accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine n UnitedHealth Premium

Specialty Center designation for Cardiac Services and Surgical Spine Services n Accredited by the

American College of Radiology for Breast MRI n Laboratory and Blood Bank

From Universal Press Syndicate Chuck Shepherd’s News Of The Weird © 2014 Chuck Shepherd

Send your weird news to Chuck Shepherd, P.O. Box 18737, Tampa, Fla., 33679 or weirdnews@earthlink.net, or go to newsoftheweird.com July 31, 2014

Experience Our Difference.

by Chuck Shepherd

accredited by The Joint Commission and AABB

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Independent News | July 31, 2014 | inweekly.net