Sept. 9, 2010 Issue

SEPTEMBER 09, 2010 | VOLUME 11 | NUMBER 35 WWW.INWEEKLY.NET

FREE

MAKING LEMONADE OUT OF LEMONS Finding opportunities in a challenging housing market

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1000 Words Make a Picture: StoryCorps in Pensacola In February and March of 2010 WUWF played host to the national oral history project, StoryCorps.

The Law Office of

The Davis Family,

UWF public history graduate student, Blythe Webster, one of the stories selected from the numerous moving stories to create featured at Gallery 88 an exhibit of images and sound for public viewing.

The exhibit hopes to call attention to the permanent archiving of the entire collection of stories from our region, at the West Florida Genealogy Library, where they will be available for future researchers.

We invite you to take some time to come look and listen to these selections and celebrate the stories of your community.

Showing at Gallery 88, August 16 – September 24 Reception: Thursday, August 26, 5-7 pm, WUWF Studios, Building 88 on the UWF campus.

PUBLISHER & EDITOR Rick Outzen

Contents COLUMNS

3 WINNERS & LOSERS 4 OUTTAKES

29 NEWS OF THE WEIRD 31 LAST WORD

NEWS/FEATURES/ARTS

6 NEWS: SUMMER OF BP QUIZ 9 COVER STORY: MAKING LEMONADE OUT OF LEMONS 15 STAY LOCAL 19 A&E: VINYL’S READY FOR ACTION 23 MUSIC: THE HELVETICA EFFECT 25 CULTURE: SHAKING UP THE SCENE

2 | INDEPENDENT NEWS | SEPTEMBER 09, 2010 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET

NEWS/INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING Sean Boone

JOHN F.

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P.O. Box 12082 • Pensacola, Fla. 32591 850-438-8115 • 1-866-724-9396 Fax: 850-438-0228 • info@inweekly.net

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Bradley “B.J.” Davis, Jr., Joani Delezen, Hana Frenette, Ashley Hardaway, Rob “Bubbs” Harris, Chuck Shepard, Trevor Webb PRODUCTION MANAGER Joani Delezen ART DIRECTOR Samantha Crooke SALES DIRECTOR Jennifer Passeretti

P.A.

Standard postage paid at Pensacola, Fla. All stories are compiled from press releases, submissions, news wires or assignments. Comments and opinions expressed in this newspaper represent the personal views of the individuals to whom they are attributed and are not necessarily those of INDEPENDENT NEWS or the publisher. Neither the advertiser nor the publisher is responsible or liable for misinformation, misprints, typographical errors, etc., contained in INDEPENDENT NEWS. The publisher reserves the right to edit all manuscripts. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the consent of the publisher.

winners & losers

winners

Weather forecasters say this year will be an extremely active hurricane season!

Patrick Gonzalez

BASKERVILLE-DONOVAN, INC. The Pensacolabased engineering firm was recently awarded the 2010 NAACP Pensacola Industry Award. BDI was selected for this award due to its lengthy partnership with the NAACP Pensacola branch in supporting youth and education through the annual student engineering scholarship. In the words of Mr. McCorvey, “Baskerville-Donovan has committed itself to our mission of ‘One Nation, One Dream,’ and deserves to be recognized as an exemplary community citizen and corporation of excellence.”

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS The Pensacola

Bay Area chapter celebrated at the end of August 90 years of American women voting. Ninety decades ago, American women gained the most basic element of citizenship: a voice at the ballot box. That victory extends to the heart of how our American democracy protects each individual citizen, as well as our responsibility as citizens to protect it in turn. Today, women hold positions on all of the area’s boards and councils.

AFRICAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE SOCIETY This

non-profit and the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce recently received a $1,250 marketing grant from VISIT FLORIDA to promote Pensacola’s African-American heritage. Visit Pensacola and the African-American Heritage Society will produce 10,000 brochures to help raise awareness among visitors of the area’s rich African-American culture. Included in the brochure will be a history of Pensacola and an explanation of the role African Americans played in the city’s founding, a tribute to notable African Americans in the community and other facts about the area’s 450-year history.

The possibility of toxic oil coming ashore increases the danger and risk of damages.

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losers

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HUGH WIGGINS Along with his wife, Pamela Long Wiggins and buddy Eddie Denson, the offshore worker was indicted in Mississippi on charges of trying to hide the guns allegedly used in the murders of Byrd and Melanie Billings. The trio has been charged for being accessories-afterthe-fact. Hugh Wiggins had an immunity agreement that prevented State Attorney Bill Eddins from prosecuting him, but it didn’t cover Mississippi.

Pensacola 438-9647 Perdido Key 492-2109 Ft. Walton Beach 226-6375

PATRICK GONZALEZ The alleged killer of Byrd and Melanie Billings had a tough week, too.

Judge Nick Geeker ruled that prosecutors can introduce evidence of a scuttled attempt to rob the Billings’ Beulah home several days before the couple was murdered.

SCANNERS It was the battle that no one cared about but WEAR TV 3, the Pensacola News Journal and News Radio 1620 AM. The local media “giants” tried to stop the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office from buying a new encrypted radio system that moved the agency into the 21st century.

Their pleas fell on deaf ears at the Escambia County Commission meeting after Sheriff David Morgan explained how drug dealers were using scanners to track deputies and derail drug busts.

AFRICAN-AMERICAN VOTERS While their elected officials were able to turn out a moderate vote for Mayor Mike Wiggins on Aug. 24, there is nothing in the platforms of either mayoral candidate that promises to make the lives of those in Districts 5, 6 and 7 any better. No disparity study, no funding for the dormant Westside plan and no help with the increasing gang presence.

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Fiesta of Five Flags Association - www.fiestaoffiveflags.org - 850.433.6512 INDEPENDENT NEWS | SEPTEMBER 09, 2010 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |

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sure that change is harder in Pensacola, but it surely seems so. For decades, a benevolent aristocracy took care of the town.

White men met in offices behind closed doors and decided what needed to be done. A spokesman or front man was chosen and the public lined up behind him.

Some profited more than others from the decisions of the few, but everyone seemed to sleep well at night believing that their decisions were for the common good. The process was always controlled and few strayed.

Pensacola began to change in the 1990s.

Area chambers sponsored Envision Escarosa, an inclusive visioning process created to make a unified community vision into reality by 2020. And while the group of over 170 citizens of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties produced a final document that sits on a shelf somewhere, the process upset the power brokers because they lost control of the outcome. The public refused to follow the “script,” which probably explains why it is rarely referenced by elected officials.

Pensacola officials didn’t learn from that process. Another huge committee was put together for development of the land across the street from Pensacola City Hall.

Leaders controlled this better and got the result they wanted—a festival park and new auditorium on Pensacola Bay. As public hearings on the final plans were held, the public questioned the lack of mixed use and any potential for economic development.

In the end, the “Trillium I” project was overturned by a referendum.

The Community Maritime Park almost started just as badly. Leaders met at Pensacola City Hall and talked about bringing the

CHANGE IS NO LONGER COMING. IT’S HERE, AND WE HAVE MORE SAY THAN EVER BEFORE.

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4 | INDEPENDENT NEWS | SEPTEMBER 09, 2010 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET

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Pensacola Pelicans, a maritime museum and the University of West Florida onto the site to serve as magnets for private investment on the land and in downtown Pensacola.

The difference maker was Quint Studer, who insisted on public input and who paid to bring renowned urban planner Ray Gindroz into the process.

The public liked what they saw, and the final plan has survived a referendum and two failed petition challenges. The project has been one of the most transparent in the history of Pensacola.

Still, community and government leaders overlook the public in their decisionmaking process. Last year’s consolidation effort is the perfect example. People want less government. They believe in the concept of consolidation, but the rush to meet the Jan. 15 deadline set by the Northwest Florida legislative delegation led the leaders of the study commission to omit public hearings on the final document. Consolidation is now effectively dead. The public lost trust in the process.

The world has changed. Technology and Florida’s public record laws make it possible for the public to know nearly as much about an issue as the people they elect. People don’t rely solely on the media for their news. Backroom deals won’t stay hidden long.

Ideas can exist outside of the boardrooms of a select few. Those ideas are created by whites, blacks, Asians, Hispanics, males, females, young and old, and those ideas that are generated must be explained and vetted by the public.

Change is no longer coming. It’s here, and we have more say than ever before.

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5

news

SUMMER OF BP QUIZ CHECK OUT YOUR SUMMER 2010 NEWS IQ

BY IN STAFF

1. Who was the Pensacola bar owner that was rejected 21-17 by the Florida Senate and allowed to sit on the Public Service Commission? a) Steve Stevens b) Nick Zangari c) Terry Johnson d) Seamas Hunt 2. Who was the George Touart supporter who was arrested for trespassing on the property of one of Touart’s political opponents? a) Derek Cosson b) Charlie Fairchild c) Mark Clabaugh d) Rex Blackburn 3. Escambia County Commissioner Gene Valentino beat Mobile County Commissioner Steve Nodine in the 2010 FloraBama Mullet Toss. What was his winning distance? a) 50 ft. b) 88 ft. c) 75 ft. d) 101.5 ft.

a) “Our Coast is Clear” b) “What Tar Balls?” c) “Still Better Than Mississippi” d) “This isn’t the first time we have survived the British” 6. In May 2010, the IN visited the hometown of Blair Manuel, one of the 11 workers killed by the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon rig. What is that small Louisiana town? a) Breaux Bridge b) Houma c) Lafayette d) Eunice 7. An almost four-month investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement culminated with charges being filed on eight known gang members and two gang associates. What was the name of the gang? a) Garnet Circle Boys b) Montclair Boyz

4. The IN coined the phrase “BP Barbie” to identify the female spokespersons for the oil giant. Which of the following was not a BP Barbie? a) Liz Castro b) Anne Kolton c) Kendra Wilkinson d) Lucia Bustamante 5. What was the slogan of the May 2010 ad campaign by the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association to attract tourists to Florida?

7

DAYS

Get your daily news first at INweekly.net. Find out before anyone else what’s happening in news, arts and entertainment, film, television and music at INDaily on our website. Here's the week in review, in case you missed it.

6 | INDEPENDENT NEWS | SEPTEMBER 09, 2010 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET

c) Shanty Town Posse d) Tick Tock Gang

c) “Wah-wah” d) “Park Yes, Stadium No”

8. Who was the BP vice president in charge of the BP claims process? a) Gary Coleman b) Darryl Willis c) Doug Suttles d) Thad Allen

13. Where did Jimmy Buffett hold his televised benefit concert? a) The Hangout, Gulf Shores, Ala. b) Margaritaville, Pensacola Beach c) Flora-Bama, Perdido Key d) Okaloosa Island, Ft. Walton Beach

9. What was the social website that became a viral hit for mocking BP public relations efforts regarding the oil disaster? a) Facebook: Give_Tony_A_Life b) MySpace: Oops_BP c) Twitter: BeyondPollution d) Twitter: BPGlobalPR

14. Who is the new CEO of the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce? a) John Hitzman b) Jim Hizer c) Gene Valentino d) Collier Merrill

10. How did Kindra Arnesan, wife of one of the Louisiana fishermen who became ill while working with the BP cleanup effort, describe BP’s public relations efforts? a) Ponies and balloons b) Bull$#@* c) Wonderful d) Smoke and mirrors 11. What is the musical instrument that was popular at the 2010 World Cup? a) Bugle b) Kazoo c) Vuvuzela d) Cowbell 12. What was the name of the political action committee formed by Marty Donovan and Jack Nobles to oppose the stadium at the maritime park? a) “Save Our City” b) “No $48 Million Debt”

15. Who is the political candidate who was caught on video taking down his opponent’s campaign signs? a) Jeff Greene b) Doug Broxson c) Greg Evers d) Greg Brown, Jr.

M O N DAY AU G 3 0

T U E S DAY AU G 31

WEDNESDAY SEPT 01

The treasurer for HolleyNavarre Primary School’s PTO is accused of stealing $13,000 from the group. Paula Nevius, 36, of Navarre, is arrested on a charge of larceny.

The man convicted of the 1993 stabbing deaths of Debbie Shanko and Anthony Shanko is sentenced to two life sentences.

Jason Mahn was sentenced to death in 1994, but the Florida Supreme Court overturned the ruling.

DeLuna Fest announces its schedule for the three-day festival, Oct. 15-17, on Pensacola Beach. New additions to the lineup bring the total number of acts to 39.

news briefs 16. Who was the Pensacola attorney who argued in front of the Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation to hold the BP trials in Pensacola? a) Neil Overholtz b) Bob Kerrigan c) Mike Papantonio d) John Asmar 17. Who is the Secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection that will be resigning on Sept. 10? a) Carol Browner b) Keith Wilkins c) Mike Sole d) Jeff Kottkamp 18. Who is the University of West Florida’s first writer-in-residence? a) P.J. O’Rourke b) Elmore Leonard c) Anne Rice d) John Grisham 19. Which of these people did Marty Donovan and Jack Nobles not try to deliver their box of anti-maritime park petitions? a) Ericka Burnett b) Mike Wiggins c) David Jester d) Al Coby 20. Where did BP set up a staging area for boom cleaning in Escambia County? a) Bayou Texar b) Bayou Chico c) Grande Lagoon d) NAS Pensacola info@inweekly.net

FWC ON BOARD FOR FALL SNAPPER Last week, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved a recommendation from the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council to allow a 24-day red snapper fishing season on weekends from Oct. 1 through Nov. 22.

A Gulf Commission representative told FWC commissioners during their three-day meeting at the Pensacola Beach Hilton that its conclusion on the recommendation came from “public testimony” and federal oversight.

But during the meeting, several local charter fishermen said they would prefer the fall season to be broken in half—or even completely nixed—so next year’s season could start in late May instead of June.

Many believe the fall, a relatively quiet time of the year for charter captains, would be a waste and much of the season’s quota would not be used.

“I would like to see all of October, or a push to the end of May next year,” said Captain Mike Eller. “There will be (hundreds of thousands) not used. This is the one time we’re asking.”

Because of this year’s closure due to the Deepwater Horizon spill, NOAA estimated that roughly 2.3 million pounds of the 3.4 million quota was not met by recreational fishermen. It is estimated that it would take 39 days to reach the 2.3 millionpound mark.

The notification of the fall season will be published by the Gulf Commission on Sept. 13.

on is making a regional visitors booth that will allow us to display different areas in the regions we serve and also allow for a promotion of the area. We’re also getting ready to install TV monitors in the concourse.”

In August, the airport completed a $35 million expansion, which included a new screening and baggage area, restaurant and two new gates and loading bridges.

The $66,000 wayfinding updates are expected to be complete by the end of the calendar year along with other aesthetic updates, according to Crawford. The Symon Digital signage system will model many hotels, convention centers and colleges.

In all, $4.5 million will be spent on improving the airport’s appearance. Improvements include: new f loor tiles, bathrooms, a landscaping overhaul, sidewalk widening, televisions, brighter overhead lights and improved crosswalks from the terminal to the concourse.

“We’ve focused on customer service issues in the past year,” adds Crawford.

“When we did the construction project (in the spring), we focused on assisting the screening process. This is just another technological improvement. Hopefully we’ll have all construction at the airport completed by April of next year.”

The airport enterprise is overseen by the Pensacola City Council, but runs on no tax dollars to operate. The 1,400-acre facility received roughly $45 million from the FAA for runway work from 2001-2007.

AIRPORT UPGRADING WAYFINDING The Pensacola Gulf Coast Regional Airport will soon be adding a new wayfinding computer software package to its terminal building that will help navigate visitors.

“It’s going to allow us to do scheduling and wayfinding within the terminal building,” says Melinda Crawford, airport director. “One of the things we’re working

NO GO FOR DWIGHT SHOW The SMG Group with the Pensacola Civic Center had been in talks of bringing in country artist Dwight Yoakam as part of a TDC-funded free show on Oct. 9, but the IN is now hearing that the concert is off.

City Councilman Larry B. Johnson, who sits on the TDC board, says he confirmed with SMG head Cindy Pennington this af-

ternoon that the concert has been canceled.

“There was concern about it being a free show,” he says. “I don’t really understand it, but we are currently trying to plan another show later in the month.”

Johnson says there was $75,000 allocated for the Civic Center show out of the $1.4 million the group received for tourism promotion from BP. DeLuna Fest received $300,000 and $50,000 was given to the Pensacola Seafood Festival for its entertainment acts.

The Civic Center currently sits in a hole of roughly $1.8 million.

SANTA ROSA SELLS ALL GLASS John Tonkin, executive director of the Santa Rosa County Clean Community System, Inc., tells IN that the county is now selling all of its recycled glass.

“One hundred percent of the glass collected in Santa Rosa County is processed by the (pulverizing) machine,” he explains.

“If the sale is successful, we will be able to expand our operation to include more separating of single-color glass. This will involve separating the glass at the point of collection.”

The program, known as “Santa Rosa Sunshine,” uses an Andela glass pulverizer to create glass pebbles and sand that can be used for lawn decorations, aquariums and more. The pulverizer was acquired through an Impact 100 grant, but the fees to operate the machinery are estimated to be $15,000 per year—a fee that the county hopes to offset by charging for the glass.

Here are the prices listed for the glass: —50 pounds mixed-glass pebbles, $15 —25 pounds mixed-glass pebbles, $10 —50 pounds mixed-glass sand, $7.50 —25 pounds mixed-glass sand, $5 Bulk mixes will also be available for $60 per yard of pebbles and $40 per yard of sand. You can buy the glass at the GreenUp Nursery, 6758 Park Ave., Milton.

N E WS OF T H E W E E K

Answers: 1 a, 2 b, 3 b, 4 c, 5 a, 6 d, 7 a, 8 b, 9 d, 10 a, 11 c, 12 d, 13 a, 14 b, 15 d, 16 a, 17 c, 18 a, 19 d, 20 b T H U R S DAY S E P T 0 2

F R I DAY S E P T 0 3

S AT U R DAY S E P T 0 4

S U N DAY S E P T 0 5

Escambia County Commissioners vote to replace the county’s communication radio system with a $12.5 million system within the next two years.

The digital system will bring the county up to FCC mandates that will be put into place in 2013.

BP officials say they await approval from the federal government to begin deep cleaning Pensacola Beach sand. According to Incident Command, workers are currently not allowed to dig deeper than six inches.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services reopens Escambia County for the harvesting of oysters, clams and mussels.

Bamboo Willie’s on Pensacola Beach concludes its annual threeday Jamaican Fest with live reggae music and a bikini contest on the Portofino Boardwalk.

Hugh Wiggins, the husband of Pamela Long Wiggins, is indicted in Mississippi as an accessory to first-degree murder in the deaths of Byrd and Melanie Billings on July 9, 2009.

INDEPENDENT NEWS | SEPTEMBER 09, 2010 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |

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MAKING LEMONADE OUT OF LEMONS Finding opportunities in a challenging housing market

It’s become a market of inches.

Although the Obama administration has made financial push after push to boost real estate sales in the past year, the continued turbulence of the economy has kept the housing market shaky.

Despite more incentives to buy property, the market is still proving to be too much of a risk for most buyers. Recently released federal housing numbers show a 26 percent drop in sales in July from the previ-

ous year, even though interest rates are at their lowest in more than 30 years.

But should buyers who have the money to buy be worried to do so? Experts say yes…and no.

“If someone is looking to buy a house it’s not a bad time to be buying,” says Brian

Hoffman, a Pensacola attorney who specializes in real estate closures and litigation.

“The prices and interest rates are lower than they have ever been, and there are more and more bank foreclosures…the banks don’t want to own a bunch of property so they are trying to get rid of it as fast as they can.”

INDEPENDENT NEWS | SEPTEMBER 09, 2010 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |

9

Escambia County Assessment and Millage Rate Comparison Tax Year

Millage

Taxable Value *

Revenue

Taxable Value % Change

‘00

8.756

$7,958,192,064

$69,681,930

-

‘01

8.756

$8,508,918,357

$74,504,089

6.92%

“Our council is offering the public an opportunity to listen to experienced attorneys for free.

A ppraisal Fallout

last year for the county and a 3.10 percent skid inside the City of Pensacola.

Jones says he’ll be speaking at the Real

“No one is interested in the long time holding. Inventory is still somewhat high and it’s becoming more and more difficult scoring on loans. Credit is becoming more and more important.”

—Chris Jones, Property Appraiser

The county is currently losing about a ‘03 8.756 $9,628,883,960 $84,310,508 7.49% half to one percent of ‘04 8.756 $11,457,587,136 $100,322,633 18.99% residential property values per month, ac‘05 8.756 $11,452,381,229 $100,277,050 -0.05% cording to Escambia ‘06 8.756 $14,673,651,678 $128,482,494 28.13% Property Appraiser ‘07 8.017 $15,746,689,119 $126,241,207 7.31% Chris Jones.

‘08 6.9755 $14,885,520,462 $103,833,948 -5.47% He says that value depletion is even worse ‘09 6.9755 $14,324,101,968 $99,917,773 -3.77% with waterfront proper‘10 6.9755 $13,585,617,589 $94,766,475 -5.16% ties and undeveloped 2000-2010 70.71% land. Jones notes that acquiring * changes in taxable value include new construction loans—particularly jumbo ones— All 2010 data is based on preliminary estimates / Table c/o Chris Jones Escambia County Property Appraiser is particularly difficult right now.

“The worst investments to have right now is vacant land,” he says.

Hoffman, who will be “Why would you build something right now speaking at the third annual when you can buy an existing building that Escambia-Santa Rosa Real is cheaper? No one is interested in the long Estate Council/IN/PYP Houstime holding. Inventory is still somewhat ing Seminar on Sept. 14, says high and it’s becoming more and more difthe gamble that you take right ficult scoring on loans. Credit is becoming now is buying in a market that more and more important.” could continue to fall.

And with the dismal market on large “It’s the right time to buy, real estate investments, the county’s revbut you’re making major asthat will speak on various aspects of the enue stream has continued to fall. Current sumptions,” he says. “There’s a lot of uncerlocal housing market and answer questions projections show a 5.16 percent drop from tainty and most people have a friend who from the audience. got utterly slammed by the falling values in “It is essential to have a real the market.” estate attorney be a part of the process so that you get clear and good title,” says Greg Farrar, president of the Real Estate Council. “It is still a buyers’ market and prices and mortgage rates This year’s Real Estate Council meeting are the most favorable to buyers is themed “Making Lemonade Out of Lemsince I began practicing law in ons” and will feature eight local attorneys 1987. The opportunities are great and experts as well as a discussion panel but so are the risks.

‘02

8.756

$8,957,921,596

$78,435,561

5.28%

“If someone is looking to buy a house it’s not a bad time to be buying” —Brian Hoffman, a Pensacola attorney who specializes in real estate closures and litigation.

Estate Council meeting to discuss where we are today compared to last year and where we are headed, as well as TRIM (truth in millage) notices, current actions by the Florida Legislature and Gov. Charlie Crist’s oil spill executive order.

“Historically there have been tax rebates for natural disasters,” he says. “My thought was to get the legislature get on board with this, but that has not occurred yet. I’m disappointed the Speaker (Larry Cretul, R-Ocala) has not decided to do a special session in September to look at that.

Because none (of the millions BP has given the state of Florida) is covering property values, there will likely be a lawsuit.”

“It is essential to have a real estate attorney be a part of the process so that you get clear and good title” —Greg Farrar, president of the Real Estate Council.

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10 | INDEPENDENT NEWS | SEPTEMBER 09, 2010 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET

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Kenneth R. Fountain • Kerry Anne Schultz Personal Injury Business & Contracts Immigration

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▶SHELL FLEMING DAVIS & MENGE

Seville Tower, 226 Palafox Place, 9th Floor, shellfleming.com Shell Fleming Davis & Menge formed in 1956 and has since built a reputation of integrity and trust for its legal work and dedication to the community.

The firm, made up of 14 attorneys, holds the Preeminent Lawyer designation from the Martindale-Hubbell Bar Registry. Its legal team has represented thousands of clients over the years, including banks, hospitals, individuals, developers and governments in a wide variety of practice areas, such as real estate, insurance defense, family law, criminal law, wills, estate planning, taxes, construction litigation, and business and corporate law.

INDEPENDENT NEWS | SEPTEMBER 09, 2010 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |

11

Foreclosures

One of the biggest changes in the real estate market this year has been the addition of foreclosure protection for both the buyer and the banks.

Hoffman says the court system’s attempt to absorb the foreclosures was not working, which prompted the state to cre-

Although the state has laws that protect late spring as borrowers from getting snubbed by finaninterests in mortcial backers by insuring that the institutions gage purchases own the property, the number of foreclodropped along sures continue to rise in the current market. with existing As of Sept. 6, there are currently 66,914 home sales, foreclosures statewide and 533 in Escambia proving that the County. According to a recent New York market had not Times report, more than 20 percent of hit its bottom. mortgages in Florida were “Some people delinquent or in foreclosay it can only went down. I think it will probably be ansure, which is the highest go up,” says Hoffman. “In 2009, it actually other year or two before things get better.” in the nation.

“The sad ity of ensacola ssessment and illage ate omparison part about it…say if you Tax Year Millage Taxable Value * Revenue Taxable Value % Change bought a home in 2005 for ‘00 5.057 $2,033,693,102 $10,284,386 $150,000…now ‘01 5.057 $2,166,415,139 $10,955,561 6.53% your house ‘02 5.057 $2,220,954,526 $11,231,367 2.52% may be only ‘03 5.057 $2,345,084,767 $11,859,094 5.59% worth $110,000 and now you are $40,000 out,” says Hoffman.

‘04 5.057 $2,602,652,955 $13,161,616 10.98% “Those people can’t go out ‘05 5.057 $2,620,138,089 $13,250,038 0.67% and capitalize on the current ‘06 4.950 $3,239,747,252 $16,036,749 23.65% rates because they are stuck with ‘07 4.598 $3,367,058,936 $15,481,737 3.93% the same loan and can’t refinance unless they have $40,000 to pay.”

‘08 4.5395 $3,190,225,921 $14,482,031 -5.25%

“For those who bought at or near the peak several years ago, particularly in markets experiencing big bubbles, it may take over a decade to fully recover lost equity” —Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist

“I think the recovery will be slow, but it all hinges on having jobs in the area and I’m hoping the new Chamber president has new ideas to put in place for Escambia county” —Jones ate mandated mediation—something that he says is still relatively “cumbersome.” “(The state) recently set up judges in each county for foreclosures,” he says. “From the perspective of a homeowner, someone had to represent the bank and could sit down and go through the options. From a public perspective, it really isn’t doing much. If someone hasn’t been making mortgage payments and it has been going on for quite some time, the process is still requiring at least six months before notification is sent (that they are not making payments).”

Moving A head

Late last year, many analysts predicted a steady upswing in the market for 2010. But those predictions were altered in

C

P

A

M

R

C

‘09

4.5395

$3,105,891,172

$14,099,193

-2.64%

‘10

4.5395

$3,009,570,462

$13,661,945

-3.10%

2000-2010

47.99%

* changes in taxable value include new construction All 2010 data is based on preliminary estimates / Table c/o Chris Jones Escambia County Property Appraiser

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•

850-432-5254

The other element to the equation for our area is the long-term effects of the oil spill. During the summer, some rentals saw a drop of more than 60 percent in sales.

Could that scare linger?

“No one knows about that intangible,” says Hoffman. “You’re banking on people moving into the area…some people may be scared off by tourism. A lot of people are sitting on the sidelines.”

Hoffman believes the market will go down for at least another year, despite the speculation that interest rates could dip to near 4 percent by the end of the year.

County officials are still looking at data from this year before making predictions for the future of the market. According to Jones, the real answer to pulling the area’s housing market from the bottom is job creation.

“I think the recovery will be slow, but it all hinges on having jobs in the area and I’m hoping the new Chamber president has new ideas to put in place for Escambia County,” Jones says. “I think when we do

6. Other home-price measurements also are showing price stabilization.

7. Home price-to-income ratios have returned to fundamentally justifiable levels.

8. Economists expect price increases in upcoming years 9. Delinquencies are high but recent loan originations are performing well.

10. The long-term path to self-reliance may be helped from long-term housingwealth gains.

“In 2009 (the housing market) actually went down. I think it will probably be another year or two before things get better.”

—Hoffman “For those who bought at or near the peak several years ago, particularly in markets experiencing big bubbles, it may take over a decade to fully recover lost equity,” said Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist in the release. “Home buyers over the past year got a great deal and buyers for the balance of this year had an edge over sellers.

“The recovery looks to be a long process,”

“It is still a buyers market and prices and mortgage rates are the most favorable to buyers since I began practicing law in 1987. The opportunities are great but so are the risks.”

—Farrar turn that around we will be poised to take advantage of the resources and draws to this area.

“We have a brand new hotel (Margaritaville) and it could be a centerpiece of that island and my understanding (Jimmy) Buffett is committed to put in a restaurant,” he adds.

But as it stands now, there is a 31 percent chance the nation will fall back into a recession next year, according to a recent Pensions & Investments analysis of predictions from national investors and economists.

The good news? The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported earlier this month that the pending home sales index rose 5.2 percent to 79.4. The bad news is its still 19.1 percent below its July 2009 rate of 98.1 percent.

NAR reports that there are currently 10 things to know about the market: 1. The economy is growing, though slowly.

2. The private sector is finally creating some jobs.

3. Consumer confidence remains low, though clearly off bottom.

4. The 30-year mortgage rate is at generational lows.

5. The national median-home price is stabilizing.

sean@inweekly.net

▶THIRD ANNUAL HOUSING SEMINAR

Sponsored By Escambia-Santa Rosa Real Estate Council.

Independent News And Pensacola Young Professionals

WHEN: Tuesday, Sept. 14 6 p.m.

WHERE: New World Landing, 600 S. Palafox St.

SPEAKERS: Greg P. Farrar, Esq.— Foreclosures and legal advice Brian Hoffman, Esq.— Status of Market and Foreclosures Chris Jones, Property Appraiser—Oil spill executive order and appraisal issues Kerry Anne Schultz, Esq.—Residential closing issues buyer or seller

PANEL: Raymond Palmer, Esq. Stephen Shell, Esq. Charles James, Esq. Jeffrey Sauer, Esq.

STEPHEN B. SHELL BOARD CERTIFIED

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2010 6 P.M. NEW WORLD LANDING 600 S. PALAFOX FOOD AND DRINKS WILL BE PROVIDED GUEST SPEAKERS INCLUDE:

GREGORY P. FARRAR, ESQUIRE, PRESIDENT RAY PALMER, ESQUIRE CHRIS JONES, PROPERTY APPRAISER JIMMY MCFALL, SHIP ADMINISTRATOR RENEE WILHOIT, SYNOVUS MORTGAGE KERRY ANNE SCHULTZ, ESQUIRE STEPHEN SHELL, ESQUIRE BRIAN HOFFMAN, ESQUIRE RICK OUTZEN, MODERATOR THERE WILL ALSO BE A PANEL OF ATTORNEYS FOR A PANEL DISCUSSION INDEPENDENT NEWS | SEPTEMBER 09, 2010 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |

13

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A SALUTE TO DIFFERENCE MAKERS At its regular August meeting, the Pensacola Downtown Improvement Board (DIB) elected officers for the 2010-2011 term.

Re-elected to new one year terms were: Burney Merrill—Chairman, Ed Carson—Vice-Chairman, Deborah Dunlap—Treasurer, and DIB Executive Director Franklin Kimbrough—Secretary.

Along with Merrill, Carson, and Dunlap, Robert Van Slyke, a downtown resident and property owner, and newly appointed member Mark Bednar, a local attorney, comprise the five voting members of the DIB. All voting members of the board must be taxable property owners within the downtown district of Pensacola. Pensacola City Councilmember Diane Mack and Escambia County Commissioner Grover Robinson also serve as ex-official members of the board.

14 | INDEPENDENT NEWS | SEPTEMBER 09, 2010 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET

special advertising section

PENSACOLA IS OUR BUSINESS STAY LOCAL SHOP LOCAL

SEPT 2010 ISSUE 15

MONTH REVIVES ENTERTAINMENT

FE STIVALS POSED TO END SEASON ON HIGH NOTE

By Sean Boone

Pensacola Seafood Festival hile the oil spill put a damper on much of the local summer season, September still shapes up to be a good close to what could be the best month yet for entertainment in 2010.

Two months ago the county’s TDC was granted $1.4 million from BP to help bring back some of the tourism revenue lost.

With that extra cash, annual events such as the Pensacola Arts Festival have had more money to work with; allowing organizers to pad their entertainment lineup with some notable national acts.

“The big difference for us this year is we have the TDC money that has allowed us to go out and get Sister Hazel and Fastball,” says Paul Remke, the chairman for the 2010 Pensacola Seafood Festival. “We can expect 80,000-100,000 patrons during the 3-day festival, no telling what this year’s turnout will be with the headliner bands being added.”

Remke says the fest will still have much of what it has had in the past, with roughly 175 arts and crafts and 18 food vendors. It will also feature a children’s

W

area in Bartram Park with dog jumping and wading in the nearby Fountain Park area.

The 33rd annual festival put on by The Fiesta of Five Flags was allotted an extra $50,000 from the TDC to create a star lineup for Saturday, its busiest day in years past.

GOT BEER?

It’s that time of year again. Time to put on your drinking cap and prepare for the Emerald Coast Beer Festival. The event held at Seville Quarter on Sept. 10 will shut down the strip of Government St. between Taragona and Jefferson for more than 35 breweries that will be distributing more than 300 different beers—including top indie beer names such as Dogfish Head, Sierra Nevada and Sweetwater.

According to co-organizer Pat Johnson, there will also be several home breweries represented, including the Pensacola Bay Brewery, which is scheduled to open in the next few months.

“It is our mission to help people learn to make their own beverages and then to help folks learn about, and appreciate, quality beverages,” says Johnson. “In a nutshell, we call that “Brew It/Drink It.”

This year’s fest is supporting three different local charities: Big Brothers Big Sisters; The Independence Fund and The Belmont Arts & Cultural Center.

“We try to pick charities that we feel benefit our community and that we have a personal interest in,” says Johnson. “There are lots of great charities out there and we’d like to help them all. However, like any benefactor, you have to make hard choices.”

And if you don’t get enough of a beer fix in September, the first week of October the Perdido Key Chamber of Commerce is hosting its first Oktoberfest. The event on Oct. 2 will be held at the Villagio and feature 100 different beers and German-inspired entertainment.

“We are hoping for about 500 event goers,” says Lauren Turner, spokesperson for the Chamber. “I believe we will be having at least four beer vendors with over 100 different imported, specialty, and microbrewed beers.”

The event was spawned from BP money the Chamber received from the TDC.

Pensacola Seafood Fest

Festival times at Seville Square: Friday, Sept. 25; 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 26; 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 27; 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Musical lineup: Friday, September 24 3 - 4:30 p.m. - Kyle Parker & East Hill 5 - 6:30 p.m. - The Springs 7 - 8:30 p.m. - Reunion Band 9 - 10:30 p.m. - The Molly Ringwalds Saturday, Sept. 25 10:30 a.m. - Noon - Beulah Land South Band 12:30 p.m. - 2 p.m. -Trunk Monkey 2:30 - 4 p.m. - Starz 5 - 6:30 p.m. - Modern Eldorados 7 - 8:30 - Fastball 9 - 11 p.m. – Sister Hazel Sunday, Sept. 26 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. - Johnny Barbato and the Lucky Doggs 1:30 - 3 p.m. - Chuck Lawson 3:30 - 5 p.m. - Heritage

ISLAND CUISINE…AND MUSIC

What’s better than great food? Eating great food on the beach.

The Pensacola Beach Chamber will host its third annual Taste of the Beach on the weekend of Sept. 18-19, featuring dishes from more than 20 restaurants in the area.

According to Chamber co-char Renee Mack, all menu items will be priced under $5 and there will be awards for the venue with the best decorated booth and dish.

The event will also host the Miracle Strip Corvette Club’s “Life’s A Vette” show on Saturday.

And just because Bands on the Beach concludes this month, doesn’t mean the music officially does. The second annual Pensacola Beach Songwriter’s Festival kicks off on Sept. 27 and runs through Oct. 3.

More than 60 nationally acclaimed artists are expected to play on 10 stages, according to event promoters. sean@inweekly.net

Emerald Coast Beer Fest

Sept.10 at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. VIP access ($50) entry time, 5:15 p.m.; general admission ($25), 6 p.m.

Oktoberfest

Oct. 2 at Villagio in Perdido Key; 2-6 p.m. $15 for sampling; $12 for T-shirts and $5 for a beer mug

Taste of the Beach

Sept. 18-19 at the Pensacola Beach Paviliion Vending prices vary for food (under $5 for sampling)

Pensacola Beach Songwriter’s Fest

Sept. 27-Oct. 3 Stages will include Bamboo Willie’s, The Grand Marlin, Margaritaville, Lilo’s Tuscan Grille, Paradise Bar and Grill, Sabine Sand Bar, Sandshaker, the Amphitheatre on the Boardwalk, and StudioAmped.

INDEPENDENT NEWS | SEPTEMBER 09, 2010 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |

15

special advertising section

Ready, Set, Paint

‘Painting With A Twist’ Looks Past Oil, Opens New Store

by Sean Boone

In the midst of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster this summer, Heidi McDonald, her husband and two friends/ business partners were finalizing plans to open up a new artistic concept in Pensacola, but had not yet signed the building lease.

After some careful consideration by the four from Louisiana, McDonald explains that they went through with their plans to open Painting With A Twist in August despite the uncertain market and have not looked back yet.

“It was a real, conscious choice for us,” she says. “We hadn’t signed the lease when the oil spill was going on, but this was something we really wanted to do regardless. We believed in moving ahead and felt this was a positive experience.”

Painting With A Twist, a do-it-yourself art franchise located in 24 locations in the Southeast, teaches 2-3-hour acrylic painting classes. Students of the classes learn from local artists how to paint every-

thing from sunsets, scenic landscapes to even barn animals.

“We have a colorful rooster that people love…my husband even sat in for that

class,” says McDonald. “A lot of the time people don’t know what they are painting when they come in and they sit down and get right into it. There isn’t anyone who walks out who isn’t happy with their painting.”

The group of owners decided to open a local business after falling in love with the Painting With A Twist concept after visiting one near their home—giving them an excuse to move to a place they’ve always loved.

“We vacationed here for years, so it worked out perfectly, as we really wanted an excuse to have a second home,” says McDonald. “I think because I do have so much appreciation for art, I wasn’t thinking (Painting With A Twist) was going to be such a special experience or anything I would want on my wall.

“It’s the experience that makes it so special and truly everyone has a creative spirit that can be tapped into.”

Have you been affected by the BP Oil Spill?

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill that occurred on April 20 has caused unprecedented effects on the states bordering the Gulf of Mexico. We are here to represent individuals and businesses that have experienced losses because of the oil spill disaster. These losses may include:

Jayne Holsinger : Women Drivers August 27th October 24th, 2010

• Coastal Property Value • Profits and Earnings • • Revenue • Access to Natural Resources • Rental Income •

The painting classes are scheduled by the type of art being instructed, with up to 40 in each class. Groups can schedule a private painting session with 10 people. No experience is needed.

“It’s a great place to talk, bring a date or have a girls’ night…bring wine or other drinks and food and we clean up and provide cups, ice and napkins,” adds McDonald. “And the great thing is, you will walk out of here with a great painting you can be proud of.” sean@inweekly.net

Painting With A Twist

4771 Bayou Blvd. (Target Center) 471-1450 Classes: 2-hour, $35; 3-hour, $45 paintingwithatwist.com/pensacola/

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Quilt Art: International Expressions September 10th November 7th, 2010

Opening Reception September 10th 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm 407 s. jefferson street 850.432.6247 www.pensacolamuseumofart.org

16

| INDEPENDENT NEWS | SEPTEMBER 09, 2010 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET

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Check out who’s moving, opening, adding new product lines or expanding services at your favorite locally-owned businesses of works by mixed media artist Justin Sadur-Torres and wood turner James McClure. Enjoy light refreshments and live music performed by Kilarney.

Regular gallery hours are Tuesday-Thursday 10 a.m.5 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Closed Sunday; and open Monday by appointment.

▼upcoming events

Jackson’s Steakhouse

400 S. Palafox St. 469-9898, jacksons.goodgrits.com • Jackson’s Steakhouse will present a wine and food event, “A Taste of the Season,” on Thursday, Sept. 30 at 5:30 p.m. With Chef Irv Miller’s new fall/winter menu as the inspiration, Curtis Flower of Distinctive Kitchens has hand selected four stellar wines to complement a selection of fall dishes prepared by Chef Irv Miller. The featured presentation for the evening is as follows: Reception: Chicken-fried veal sweetbreads with black-pepper cream sauce crostini with brie, caramelized Vidalia onions, sliced Anjou pears, spiced walnuts and scallions paired with Domenico de Bertiol Prosecco di Conegliano NV, Italy Second Pairing: Sautéed shrimp caponata with pork belly, wilted kale and Cantonment white cheddar grits paired with De Martino Legado Chardonnay Reserve, Chile 2007 Third Pairing: Pappardelle with Cornish game-hen confit, roasted acorn squash, wild mushrooms, brown butter sauce and fresh chives paired with Primarius Pinot Noir, Oregon 2008 Fourth Pairing: Roast beef tenderloin medallions with sweet corn and butter bean succotash with buttermilk mashed potatoes paired with Annabella Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California 2007 To Finish: Baked sweet potato and Granny Smith apple cobbler with cinnamon and sugar dust, vanilla ice cream and crispy basil The event is $65 per person plus tax and gratuity. Seating is limited, and reservations are required. Call 469-9898 to reserve your space.

�

Will Call’s Monday Night “Maddness” begins Sept. 13

Will Call Sports Grille

22 Palafox Place, 912-8644, willcallsports.com • Are you ready for some Xbox football? If so, join Will Call for Monday Night “Maddness” beginning Sept. 13.

Every Monday night, Will Call will have a Madden 11 tournament. Sign up throughout the week to sit in their new Will Call MVP box seats and play on one of the giant projector screens. Winners of each weekly tournament will receive prizes and advance to the first Will Call Big Ticket Tournament to be played Jan. 30, the Sunday before the Super Bowl. The winner of the Big Ticket Tournament gets to take home the Xbox and Madden 11 and will receive a Will Call gift certificate. Email George Moore at gmoore@ willcallsports.com.

▼now open

Gallery Zarragossa

310 E. Government St., 2nd Floor, 4698060, galleryzarragossa.com • Gallery Zarragossa will hold its grand reopening on Gallery Night at its new location at 310 E. Government St., 2nd Floor. The gallery will present “Believe,” a collection

The Leisure Club

There is no childhood obesity epidemic.

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Check out their forare additional All ofwebsite our clubs open 24/7. Join one, use them all. events andTo details. find a club near you, visit www.anytimefitness.com.

100 S. Alcaniz St. September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. For four weeks, you’re going to hear that 1 in 3 kids are overweight or obese—and that video games, vending machines, TV and junk food are to blame. But the real problem is that adults aren’t setting a good example.

Parents, we know you’re busy, so we’re here to help. Visit one of our 1,300 Anytime Fitness clubs in the month of September and receive a FREE 30-day trial membership, a FREE 30-minute personal training session, and a FREE 30-day pass to AnytimeHealth.com.

All of our clubs are open 24/7. Join one, use them all.

To find a club near you, visit www.anytimefitness.com.

At participating clubs only. Offer subject to change. Must be 18 years or older. Current members may be ineligible.

Sponsor of the Coalition of Angry Kids

Pensacola, FL • 469.1144

At participating clubs only. Offer subject to change. Must be 18 years or older. Current members may be ineligible.

unique & affordable Join us for Wine Tastings Thursdays 5-7 p.m.

now featuring

Specialty Imported Beer & Craft Brews

Wine Classes: Call UWF to register, 473-7468

27 S. 9th Ave.

433-WINE or 433-9463

www.aragonwinemarket.com INDEPENDENT NEWS | SEPTEMBER 09, 2010 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |

17

special advertising section

Featured business directory ADVERTISING

LANDSCAPING

Cox Media 3405 McLemore Drive 432-1403 or (866) ADS-SELL coxmedia.com

Jim Holley, Legionnaire 492-5893 or 501-9597

LODGING Highpointe Hotel Corp.

311 Gulf Breeze Parkway 932-9314 highpointe.com

BARS/NIGHT CLUBS Hopjacks Pizza Kitchen & Taproom 10 Palafox Place 497-6073 hopjacks.com Sandshaker Lounge 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd.

932-2211 sandshaker.com

NETWORKING Success in Heels 637-8644 successinheels.com

Seville Quarter 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 sevillequarter.com

RESTAURANTS 600 South/ New World Landing 600 S. Palafox 432-5254 600southpalafox. com

Vinyl Music Hall 2 S. Palafox vinylmusichall.com

dineglobalgrill.com Hopjacks Pizza Kitchen & Taproom 10 Palafox Place 497-6073 hopjacks.com Jackson’s Steakhouse 400 South Palafox St. 469-9898 jacksons.goodgrits.com New York Nick’s 11 Palafox Place 469-1984 newyorknicks.net Portabello Market 400 S. Jefferson St. 439-6545 agourmetoccasion.com

Pizzaz 3055 Gulf Breeze Parkway 934-3436

SEWING Derrel’s of Pensacola 5559 N. Davis Highway 438-5444 sewinginpensacola.com

TELECOMMUNICATIONS Cox 2205 La Vista Ave. Business (866) 792-8470 Residential (866) 961-1102 cox.com

WINE & SPIRITS Aragon Wine Market 27 S. Ninth Ave. 433-9463 aragonwinemarket.com

Savanna Blue 4238 W. Fairfield Drive 453-2980 savannablue.net

BEAUTY Christopher Kelly Salon 120 S. Palafox Place 444-4940 christopherkellysalon.com

Geno’s Italian Restaurant

Still Waters Day & Medical Spa 20 N. Tarragona St. 432-6772 stillwatersmedspa.com

ENTERTAINMENT Silver Screen Theatre

7280 Plantation Road 476-7469 silverscreentheatre.com

The Fish House 600 S. Barracks St. 470-0003 goodgrits.com

HOME FURNISHINGS & DESIGN

Geno’s Italian Restaurant 9276 N. Davis Highway 477-2365

Urban Objects 500 N. Ninth Ave. 912-8683 urbanobjects.net

The Global Grill 27 Palafox Place 469-9966

• Very high quality Swiss-made Sewing Machines by Bernina • Professional Service on most all brands of home and commercial sewing machines • We also sharpen scissors

Want to be included in our featured business directory?

Will Call Sports Grille 22 Palafox Place 912-8644 willcallsports.com

RETAIL/ APPAREL Running Wild 3012 E. Cervantes St. 435-9222

Contact Jennifer Passeretti at 266-4808 or Jennifer@ inweekly.net for details.

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arts + entertainment

ART, FILM, MUSIC, STAGE, BOOKS AND OTHER SIGNS OF CIVILIZATION...

VINYL’S READY FOR ACTION V I N Y L M U S I C H A L L O P E N S I T S D O O R S A N D B R I N G S T H E C ROW D

BY HANA FRENETTE

photo by Thom Ulmer he opening night of Vinyl Music Hall was the most excitement downtown Pensacola has seen since Afroman played at Seville Quarter.

The line to get in stretched from Vinyl’s front door on the corner of Palafox and Garden streets to halfway around the block. Five thousand people showed up and managed to keep the 520-person-capacity club completely full for over 4 hours.

“An opening night is never perfect,” said Joe Abston, one of four of Vinyl’s owners. “I’ve opened a lot of businesses, and this was probably the smoothest opening yet.”

Harry Levin, Sherrod Levin, and Evan Levin, all cousins, own Vinyl along with Abston, who also co-owns Hopjacks Pizza Kitchen and Taproom.

“We all met through business,” Abston said. “They’d come into Hopjacks and eat pizza and drink beer.”

And just like many great partnerships born alongside alcohol and a hand-tossed

T

crust, so came Vinyl. “I was looking to do something in the music genre,” Abston said. “And it just all seemed to work really well.”

Vinyl was 14 months in the making.

Handpicked antique doors from New Orleans were brought in to make the bar and a state of the art sound system was installed. 5 ½, a high-end wine and spirits bar, was also built next to Vinyl and will be open every day of the week. It can also be accessed through the inside of Vinyl on nights when shows are held.

“You’ll be able to get fine wines and handcrafted beers there—kind of like a throwback to the speakeasy.”

5½ is decorated with quirky light fixtures, exposed brick walls and a comfy couch or two, as well as bar stools. It looks like a place Woody Allen or Andy Warhol might have hung out in during the 60s.

“We really tried to take our time and get it right,” Abston said.

A lot of time and effort went into making Vinyl a unique venue and Abston wanted that to reflect in the music played at the club as well.

“It’s really exciting being able to go on the fringe of the music genres and have stuff that’s not played on the radio,” Abston said. “We don’t want to be considered a rock club or a country club, just a really good club.”

Vinyl recently released the names of several acts scheduled to play within the next few months, including Dr. John, The Misfits, and Red Jumpsuit Apparatus.

“We’re touching on a lot of different genres and we want to embrace what the community wants,” Abston said. “We’re going to bring in a lot of people you probably heard on the radio growing up, and also a lot of people you may have never heard of at all.”

Diversity seems to be one of the main factors in Vinyl’s upcoming shows.

“We’re going to give 80s bands, country acts, and locals a place to play,” said Chris Wilkes, talent buyer for Vinyl. “We’re willing to try anything other than what’s expected.”

More acts will continue to be announced on Vinyl’s website. There’s even a place to request a band so that Vinyl can be

THE NEW SOUND OF PALAFOX

A LOCAL MUSICIANS TAKE ON VINYL

BY THOM ULMER

T

he mounting curiosity over Vinyl Music Hall was finally sated as thousands of people made their way in and out of its doors on opening night.

Packed shoulder-to-shoulder in the 500-plus-capacity room, a collective agreement was made: “Wow, downtown Pensacola needed this.”

While much hype and discussion had been had over pretty much every aspect of Vinyl’s unveiling— from the upcoming months’ lineup, to The Gills’ last show, to the number of rooms and the variety of drinks, to even the possible job opportunities—I was there to find out one thing: how’s the sound?

All the strobe lights and fog in the world can’t

make up for a lackluster sound system—something local musicians know all too well. For years, local musicians have found their favorite haunts around town, dug their niches and built their own followings in small clubs, dive bars and beach huts often with PA systems and sound equipment provided by the venues themselves to varying results.

Not to say that there aren’t some decent systems around town, but I’ve been electrocuted by faulty microphones enough to get a little giddy at the idea of playing a mid-sized venue equipped with a multithousand dollar state-of-the-art sound system. And that’s exactly what Vinyl is, and has.

completely tuned in to who the community wants to see.

In addition to hosting an unpredictable lineup of shows, Vinyl will hopefully do something else: get more people downtown, and more often.

“We really wanted this to help Pensacola,” Abston said. “We keep hearing people say, ‘There’s nothing to do here.’”

Downtown Pensacola has certainly had the blues—or at least has been moody—for a while now. If things go well, maybe Vinyl can change that.

“We really want to try and get people downtown who don’t normally come down here,” Abston explained. “If we can expose them to the city, it’s a win-win situation.”

Vinyl is just a music hall, not the coming of a saint, but it does have the ability to bring life into downtown Pensacola that may not have been there otherwise.

“I really do appreciate everybody really supporting us and waiting on us,” Abston added.

Now people are anxious to see what’s next. info@inweekly.net

VINYL MUSIC HALL

2 S. PALAFOX PLACE VINYLMUSICHALL.COM

You see, while Vinyl offers Pensacola music goers plenty of opportunities to enjoy themselves and see bigger and better shows, its greatest offering is to the local musicians that may now get to play like rock stars and share the stage with renowned traveling acts from around the world—fog machines and all.

There are a number of great touring bands that are going to be coming through town in the coming months, but let’s not forget to support our thriving local bands and make a special effort to catch their shows at Vinyl, too. Let them guitar solo with a foot up on the monitor.

Let them lick the microphone like David Lee Roth. If they stage dive, catch them—even if there are five of you in that room. Short of booking a show at the Pensacola Civic Center or bringing a miniature Stonehenge replica to their next gig, Vinyl is the best bet local musicians have for getting a little taste of the grandeur and atmosphere only a mid- to large-size venue can evoke.

INDEPENDENT NEWS | SEPTEMBER 09, 2010 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |

19

hot times THURSDAY 09.09 T-SHIRT NIGHT 7 p.m. Half-price drinks when wearing a Shaker shirt. Sandshaker Lounge, Pensacola Beach Blvd., Pensacola Beach. 932-2211 or sandshakerlounge.com.

WOMEN-ONLY MORNING RUNS AT RUNNING WILD 6 a.m.

Tuesdays and Thursdays, weekly. Meet at Running Wild for a steady-pace run for all levels of runners. 3012 E. Cervantes St. 435-9222 or werunwild.com.

RUNNING WILD SIX AT SIX 6 a.m. Various abilities from a 10 minute per mile pace and faster. Course is six miles, through East Hill, Downtown and North Hill. Stick around for coffee after the run. 435-9222 or werunwild.com.

the Deck. The Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St. 470-0003 or fishhouse.goodgrits.com.

MUSIC: BELLA ORANGE 9 p.m. End O’ the Alley in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

FRIDAY 09.10 ‘WOMEN WALK THROUGH IT’ AT LOBLOLLY THEATRE 8 p.m.

Friday and Saturday. Loblolly Theatre is extending the run for “Women Walk Through It As If It Isn’t There” until Sept. 11.

Tickets $9. The Loblolly Theatre, 1010 N. 12th Ave. 439-3010 or loblollytheatre.com.

EVENING RUNS AT RUNNING WILD 5:30 p.m. weekly. Meet at Running Wild for a steady-pace run for all levels of runners. 3012 E. Cervantes St. 435-9222 or werunwild.com.

‘ALL SHOOK UP’ AT PLT 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. 2:30 p.m.

Sunday. Pensacola Little Theatre presents “All Shook Up,” directed

by Roy Bracken. Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. 4322042 or pensacolalittletheatre.com.

HERB CLASS AT EVER’MAN 5:30 p.m. weekly. Enjoy different guest lectures every Thursday night, and learn techniques recommended by the Cambridge Institute. Free for members, $2 for non-members. Ever’man Natural Foods, 315 W. Garden St. 438-0402 or everman.org.

PENSACOLA MUSEUM OF ART EXHIBIT RECEPTION 5:30-7:30 p.m. The show theme is “Women Drivers” and is juried by Jayne Holsinger, renowned photorealist. Also on exhibit, Quilt Art: International Expressions. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. 432-6247 or pensacolamuseumofart.org.

SUNSETS AT PLAZA DE LUNA PARK 5:30 p.m. weekly. Each Thursday during the season there will be music and entertainment. Arts and crafts activities and works from local artists will also be offered. Food will also be available. 435-1695 or cityofpensacola.com/cra.

WINE TASTING AT ARAGON WINE MARKET 5-7 p.m. Weekly.

Enjoy a sampling of fine wines. 27 S. Ninth Ave. 433-9463 or aragonwinemarket.com.

ART CLASS AT PAINTING WITH A TWIST 7-9 p.m. Bring your favorite bottle of wine or beverage, and paint a picture step by step that you will take home. 16 years and older. Theme: Shaken not Stirred. Painting with a Twist, 4771 Bayou Blvd., Suite C-11. $35. 471-1450 or paintingwithatwist.com/pensacola.

MUSIC: BUDZ 9:30 p.m. Intermission, 214 S. Palafox. No Cover. 433-6208.

MUSIC: WB SEARCY 6 p.m. Peg Leg Pete’s, 1010 Fort Pickens Road, Pensacola Beach. No cover. 932-4139 or peglegpetes.com.

EMERALD COAST BEER FEST 6-8:30 p.m. Beer tasting event. $25 in Advance, $30 Day of Festival. $100 VIP tickets. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

WINE TASTING AT SEVILLE QUARTER 5-7 p.m. weekly. All wines available at special pricing. Free. Gift Shoppe at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com

ART CLASS AT PAINTING WITH A TWIST 3-5 p.m. Bring your favorite bottle of wine or beverage, and paint a picture step by step that you will take home. 16 years and older. Theme: Cross on Red. Painting with a Twist, 4771 Bayou Blvd., Suite C-11. $35.

471-1450 or paintingwithatwist.com/pensacola.

BEER AND WINE TASTING AT DISTINCTIVE KITCHENS 4:30-7 p.m. weekly. Free. Distinctive Kitchens, 29 S. Palafox Place. 4384688 or dk4u.com.

ART CLASS AT PAINTING WITH A TWIST 6-9 p.m. Bring your favorite bottle of wine or beverage, and paint a picture step by step that you will take home. 16 years and older. Theme: Sea My Trailer. Painting with a Twist, 4771 Bayou Blvd., Suite C-11. $45.

471-1450 or paintingwithatwist.com/pensacola.

PHAT GIRLZ 9:30 a.m. Meet at Running Wild. This is a women’s only, all abilities running group. All abilities 3 to 6 miles through

“WET COUNTY”

LOCAL LATE NIGHT TELEVISION DONE RIGHT

BY ROB “BUBBS” HARRIS

COLLEGE NIGHT COOK-OUT 7-10 p.m. weekly. No cover with college ID. Cookout, drink specials and live music. End O’ the Alley Bar inside Seville Quarter.130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

MUSIC: HOLLY SHELTON 7 p.m. No Cover. Five Sisters Blues Café, 421 W. Belmont St. 912-4856 or fivesistersbluescafe.com.

East Pensacola Heights. 3012 E. Cervantes St. 435-9222 or werunwild.com.

WINE TASTING AT CITY GROCERY 5:15-7:30 p.m. weekly. Sample wines and enjoy live entertainment. Free. 2050 N. 12th Ave.

PENSACOLA SWING 8:30 p.m.-12 a.m. weekly. Lessons from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Open dancing until midnight. American Legion Post 33, 1401 W. Intendencia St. $5. 437-5465 or pensacolaswing.com.

MUSIC: FIRST CITY BLUES BAND 9:30 p.m. No Cover. Five Sisters Blues Café, 421 W. Belmont St. 912-4856 or fivesistersbluescafe.com.

MUSIC: THE REZ 9 p.m. Apple Annie’s in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

▶staff pick

CARIBBEAN NIGHT AT WILL CALL 10 p.m.-close weekly. $5 entrance fee includes one free drink and all the dancing you can stand. 22 S. Palafox St. 912-8644 or willcallsports.com.

COLLEGE NIGHT AT SAVANNA BLUE 9 p.m.-close weekly. Drink and Drown, with all you can drink domestic draft and well drinks for $10. Also offering two-for-one well drinks. 4238 W. Fairfield Drive. 453-2980 or savannablue.net.

ARTEL EXHIBIT RECEPTION 6-8 p.m. The show theme is E=MC2 juried by Amy Bowman, director of T.A.G. at UWF. Art pieces will depict strength, power and energy. Artel Gallery, 223 S. Palafox.

432-3080 or artelgallery.org.

H

ave you ever been sitting around the house on a Friday night, flipping through the channels and sifting through an endless sea of terrible programming? And how bad are those local late night shows, huh? You’re bored silly, but you just don’t feel like going out, right?

Well, my friends, you now have a glimmering beacon of hope to satisfy your lust for adventure, without ever

having to leave the couch. May I now introduce to you, “Wet County,” a locally-produced late night television program that brings you the best in entertainment that both Escambia County and the Gulf Coast have to offer.

Every Friday, after “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (roughly at 1 a.m.), “Wet County” brings you the best bands, the hottest spots and the wildest people—right to your living room.

“We wanted to do a local TV show that wasn’t the same old run-of-the-mill programming that nobody watches,” says co-producer and host Brody Logan.

“What we do is go out, so you don’t have to. We hit some great spots and catch some good times to share with everybody. There is so much great music and culture in Escambia County, as well as all around the Gulf Coast that it would be a shame not to do something like this.”

The first “Wet County” episode, featuring local funk/ rock group Bella Orange, premiered on Aug. 6 on WEAR TV 3, and was well-received by the community.

Now, don’t think that you have to be some kind of loser if you’re the one sitting at home flipping channels.

Not everyone has it so good that they can go out and

raise the rafters every weekend, which is the reason the producers of “Wet County,” which also includes Logan’s longtime friend and colleague Dana Szpunar, created the show in the first place.

“Everybody can’t go out all of the time,” Logan explains. “Some people have kids. Others may not have it in the budget. Some may even have a desire to hear and see live music, without having to deal with the rest of what goes into a night out. Whatever the reason, we are there for you. We only want to bring you the best bands and the most fun you can have without leaving the house. I have personally watched late night television and I have never seen anything like what we are doing with ‘Wet County.’”

So, there you have it. Insomniacs need not fret, for there is more than just Mr. T infomercials, evangelicals and “Hoarders” marathons on late Friday nights. Get “Wet!”

“WET COUNTY”

WHEN: 1 a.m., after “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (Time may also vary depending on regular program scheduling, including football games, special programming, etc.)

WHERE: WEAR TV 3 (Escambia County) DETAILS: wetcountytv.com

MUSIC: LIVE MUSIC AT THE DECK 6 p.m. Enjoy live music on

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hot times

MUSIC: BUDZ 9:30 p.m. Intermission, 214 S. Palafox. No cover.

433-6208.

MUSIC: MOST WANTED 7-11 p.m. Hub Stacey’s at the Point, 5851 Galvez Road. No cover. 497-0071 or hubstaceys.com.

MUSIC: ACOUSTIFUNK 8:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Hub Stacey’s Downtown, 312 E. Government St. No cover. 469-1001 or hubstaceys.com.

MUSIC: 3 AMIGOS DUO 6 p.m. Peg Leg Pete’s, 1010 Fort Pickens Road, Pensacola Beach. No cover. 932-4139 or peglegpetes.com.

MUSIC: THE ROWDIES 9 p.m. The Deck at The Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St. 470-0003 or fishhouse.goodgrits.com.

MUSIC: KATAGORY 5 9 p.m. LiliMarlene’s in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

MUSIC: BELLA ORANGE 9 p.m. End O’ the Alley in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

MUSIC: CLASSICFEST CONCERT AT CHRIST CHURCH 7:30 p.m.

Featuring classical music from the Romantic Period. $25 for adults for one concert, $45 for two concerts. Discounts are available for students and active duty military. Christ Church, 18 W. Wright St. 432-5115 or christ-church.net.

MUSIC: THE WRECKING CREW 6-10 p.m. Paradise Bar and Grill, 21 Via de Luna. 916-5087 or paradisebar-grill.com.

SATURDAY 09.11 MOVIE NIGHT FOR CHARITY 6 p.m. American Legion Post 340 is hosting a showing of “Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief.” Cost is $10 per person and includes hamburgers, hotdogs, soda and beer. Proceeds go to school supplies for foster children. Bring chairs and blankets to sit on. American Legion Post 340, 8890 Ashland Drive. Contact Manya Morohovich at 474-8503.

MARINE CORPS CHARITY RUN/WALK 7 a.m. The Marine Corps Aviation Association and The Marine Corps League present the 27th Anniversary 5K Charity Run/Walk. This year, the race will benefit New Horizons of Northwest Florida, Inc., The Escambia Westgate School, The Miracle League of Pensacola, Gulf Coast Kid’s House, Boys and Girls Club and Independence Fund. Packet pickup and late registration will be Sept. 10 from 6-8 p.m. at Seville Quarter. For more information contact the 5K Charity Run Committee at childrensrun5k@gmail.com or 452-9460 ext. 3113.

FALL GARDENING SEMINAR AT EVER’MAN 1 p.m. Greg Armour from EDEN Garden Supply will discuss what to put in the soils, preparing your beds and planters and what to do to get ready for the new growing season after the summer. Free for members, $2 for non-members. Ever’man Natural Foods, 315 W. Garden St. 438-0402 or everman.org.

ART CLASS AT PAINTING WITH A TWIST 4-6 p.m. Bring your favorite bottle of wine or beverage, and paint a picture step by step that you will take home. 16 years and older. Theme: Five Flags. Painting with a Twist, 4771 Bayou Blvd., Suite C-11. $35.

471-1450 or paintingwithatwist.com/pensacola.

ART CLASS AT PAINTING WITH A TWIST 7-10 p.m. Bring your favorite bottle of wine or beverage, and paint a picture step by step that you will take home. 16 years and older. Theme: Banana Leaves. Painting with a Twist, 4771 Bayou Blvd., Suite C-11. $45.

471-1450 or paintingwithatwist.com/pensacola.

PALAFOX MARKET 8 a.m.-2 p.m. weekly. Open every Saturday, rain or shine, through Oct. 30 in Martin Luther King Plaza on Palafox Street between Wright and Chase streets. Fresh produce, live plants, baked goods, fine art and antiques are available. palafoxmarket.com.

RUNNING WILD SATURDAY LONG RUN 6 a.m. 8-20 miles, supported hydration stops, marked courses, pace leaders and more.

435-9222 or werunwild.com.

MUSIC: THE SMART BROTHERS 8 p.m. Jay and Mickey Smart present “Tales from their Many Travels,” a live show featuring rare Smart Brothers B-sides, unreleased old songs, new songs, tasty tributes, and a couple of surprises. The Leisure Club, 126 S. Palafox. thesmartbrothers.com.

MUSIC: KARAOKE CONTEST NIGHT AT SAVANNA BLUE 9 p.m. weekly. Karaoke performances with cash prize. Two-for-one drafts and well drinks. 4238 W. Fairfield Drive. 453-2980 or savannablue.net.

MUSIC: PANHANDLE ALL STARS 9:30 p.m. No Cover. Five Sisters Blues Café, 421 W. Belmont St. 912-4856 or fivesistersbluescafe.com.

MUSIC: COLGATE COUNTRY SHOWDOWN 7 p.m. Call 994-6000 to make reservations. Farmers’ Opry, 8897 Byrom Campbell Road.

994-9219 or farmersopry.com.

MUSIC: AL MARTIN 7 p.m. weekly. Ragtyme Grille, 201 S. Jefferson St. 429-9655 or ragtyme.net.

PENSACOLA ICE FLYERS PROMOTIONAL TEAM TRYOUTS 1:30 p.m. Tryouts will be held at Dorothy’s Dance Studio, 28 S. Palafox St., and will consist of interviews, application review and dance performance. Visit the Pensacola Ice Flyers office at 201 E. Gregory St. to pick up your application early. Participants will be required to submit an application, resume, picture and $25 application fee. For more information, visit pensacolaiceflyers.com. To reserve your spot, contact Aaron Epstein at 466-3111.

MUSIC: SWEATER PUPPIES 9:30 p.m. Intermission, 214 S. Palafox. No cover. 433-6208.

YARD SALE FOR SANTA ROSA COUNTY DEMOCRATS 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Items for sale will include toys, stuffed animals, books, kitchen items, glassware, tools, technology, and more. 5746 Stewart St. Call 623-2345 for information or to make donations.

MUSIC: 3 AMIGOS DUO 6 p.m. Peg Leg Pete’s, 1010 Fort Pickens Road, Pensacola Beach. No cover. 932-4139 or peglegpetes.com.

‘WOMEN WALK THROUGH IT’ AT LOBLOLLY THEATRE 8 p.m. Loblolly Theatre is extending the run for “Women Walk Through It As If It Isn’t There” until Sept. 11. Admission $9. The Loblolly Theatre, 1010 N. 12th Ave. 439-3010 or loblollytheatre.com.

MUSIC: THE ROWDIES 9 p.m. The Deck at The Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St. 470-0003 or fishhouse.goodgrits.com.

MUSIC: CAUGHT ON CAMERA 9 p.m. No cover. Bamboo Willie’s, 400 Quietwater Beach Road. 916-9888 or bamboowillies.com.

R

TY LI

AR

KING OF THE BEACH AT BAMBOO WILLIE’S 11 a.m. Chip’s Gym will host the annual King of the Beach bench press competition. Bamboo Willie’s, 400 Quietwater Beach Road. 916-9888 or bamboowillies.com.

MUSIC: KRAZY GEORGE KARAOKE 8:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Hub Stacey’s Downtown, 312 E. Government St. No cover. 469-1001 or hubstaceys.com.

KE

STRAND JEWELRY SHOW 10 a.m. Door prizes will be given away every hour. Blue Morning Gallery, 112 S. Palafox. 429-9100 or bluemorninggallery.com.

MUSIC: THE BUDZ 7-11 p.m. Hub Stacey’s at the Point, 5851 Galvez Road. No cover. 497-0071 or hubstaceys.com.

! PA

MUSIC: SAWMILL AND GUESTS 7 p.m. Farmers’ Opry, $21.95 for meal and show. Dinner is from 4:30-7 p.m., and the show starts at 7 p.m. 8897 Byrom Campbell Road. 994-9219 or farmersopry.com.

MISS SEVILLE QUARTER FINALS 8:30 p.m. Meet and greet.

Phineas Phogg’s in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 4346211 or sevillequarter.com.

AR

MUSIC: HOLLY SHELTON 7 p.m. weekly. Ragtyme Grille, 201 S. Jefferson St. 429-9655 or ragtyme.net.

CK S T

MUSIC: THE BLENDERS 7 p.m. weekly. Ragtyme Grille, 201 S. Jefferson St. 429-9655 or ragtyme.net.

SMOOTHIE BLAST FOR TEENS 10 a.m. Teens can learn how to create delicious, healthy smoothies. $10 for members, $15 for non-members. For teenagers 13 to 15. Must RSVP at 438-0402, ext. 10. Ever’man Natural Foods, 315 W. Garden St. 438-0402 or everman.org.

O

MUSIC: CAUGHT ON CAMERA 9 p.m. No cover. Bamboo Willie’s, 400 Quietwater Beach Rd. 916-9888 or bamboowillies.com.

MUSIC: KATAGORY 5 9 p.m. LiliMarlene’s in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

MUSIC: BELLA ORANGE 9 p.m. End O’ the Alley in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

Ladies Night Sun- Thu $5 Bottomless cup for Ladies from 11pm-1am

First Ten Ladies“With This ad” Win A FREE Pair Of “Arety’s” Panties

MUSIC: KNEE DEEP BAND 9:30 p.m. Hopjacks Pizza Kitchen and Taproom, 10 South Palafox. 497-6073 or hopjacks.com.

MUSIC: THE REZ 9 p.m. Apple Annie’s in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

First Happy Hour from Noon-8pm 2nd Happy Hour from 10pm-Midnight

11 E. Fairfield * 850.435.7500 Open 1pm ‘til 3am

Purchase souvenir Angel Cup and fill up with $2 well drinks and $1 Angel Brew beer.

We’re gonna give you a fantasy you can’t refuse

Purchase souvenir Angel Cup and pleasure yourself with topless girls and free bottomless drinks*.

$2 Longnecks, $2 Well drinks and $2 shots.

INDEPENDENT NEWS | SEPTEMBER 09, 2010 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |

fox"! a"

21

hot times MUSIC: PROJECT SOUTH JAM 6-10 p.m. at Paradise Bar and Grill, 21 Via de Luna. 916-5087 or paradisebar-grill.com.

THREE DOLLAR HOLLER 7 p.m.-close. Enjoy $3 drinks on anything at Hopjacks Pizza Kitchen and Taproom. 10 S. Palafox Place.

497-6073 or hopjacks.com.

SUNDAY 09.12

POETRY AND SPOKEN WORD NIGHT 7 p.m. End of the Line Café, 610 E. Wright St. 429-0336 or eotlcafe.com.

MUSIC: CLASSICFEST CONCERT 2:30 p.m. Featuring classical music from the Romantic Period. $25 for adults for one concert, $45 for two concerts. Discounts are available for students and active duty military. Christ Church, 18 W. Wright St. 432-5115 or christ-church.net.

PENSACOLA POKER ALLIANCE 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. SundayWednesday weekly. Four times a week, the Pensacola Poker Alliance presents a whole new Texas Hold ’Em event at Seville Quarter. Two sessions are hosted each night. 21 and up. Phineas Phogg’s at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

SUCKER FREE SUNDAYS 11 a.m-2:30 a.m. All draft beers half price. Hopjacks Pizza Kitchen and Taproom, 10 Palafox Place.

497-6073 or hopjacks.com.

MUSIC: AMIGO’S 3 p.m. Bamboo Willie’s, 400 Quietwater Beach Road. 916-9888 or bamboowillies.com.

MUSIC: KARAOKE 9 p.m. weekly. Savanna Blue Neighborhood Grill, 4238 W. Fairfield Drive. 453-2980 or savannablue.net.

MUSIC: PAUL KILLOUGH 6 p.m. Peg Leg Pete’s, 1010 Fort Pickens Road, Pensacola Beach. No cover. 932-4139 or peglegpetes.com.

MUSIC: LOCAL HERO 7-9 p.m. Bands on the Beach at the Gulfside Pavilion.

MONDAY 09.13

MUSIC: KARAOKE WITH BECKY & CURT 8 p.m. Sandshaker Lounge, 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd., Pensacola Beach. 932-2211 or sandshakerlounge.com.

EVENING RUN AT RUNNING WILD 5:30 p.m. All abilities run a three to five mile loop through East Pensacola Heights. 4359222 or werunwild.com.

SEVILLE QUARTER MILERS 5:30 p.m. weekly. Meet in front of Seville Quarter and run the downtown streets of Pensacola. All levels of runners welcome. Free pasta and drink specials in Fast Eddies after you run. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 4346211 or sevillequarter.com.

TEXAS HOLD’EM 4 FUN 7:30 p.m. weekly. Enjoy $2 longnecks.

Sandshaker Lounge, 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd., Pensacola Beach.

932-2211 or sandshakerlounge.com.

AT ITS FINEST.

HOUSE-MADE MOZZARELLA, HEIRLOOM TOMATOES & FRESH GARDEN VEGTABLES SERVED IN A MASON JAR, WITH A RED WINE VINAIGRETTE.

MUSIC: GABE STEEVES 9 p.m. weekly. End O’ The Alley at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

MUSIC: RICHARD BOWEN 6 p.m. No cover. Peg Leg Pete’s, 1010 Fort Pickens Road, Pensacola Beach. 932-4139 or peglegpetes.com.

MUSIC: THE MUSICIANS ALLIANCE OPEN MIC NIGHT 9 p.m.

Apple Annie’s in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

TUESDAY 09.14 HAUNTED TOURS 10:30 a.m. weekly. Take a break from the sun at Haunted Seville Quarter. After your tour enjoy a buffet lunch in Apple Annie’s Courtyard. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

EVER’MAN STORY SPROUTS 10 a.m. Join fellow StorySprouts at Ever’man for children’s stories, songs and activities. This class is for children between the ages of 3 to 5. Free for members, $2 for non-members. Ever’man Natural Foods, 315 W. Garden St. 438-0402 or everman.org.

TAPAS & TASTING 5-7 p.m. weekly. Every Tuesday enjoy tapas paired with red and white wines from around the world. Palace Cafe at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. $10. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

LADIES NIGHT AT ANGUS 5 p.m. to close weekly. First “one sipper” on the house. Half off beer, house wine, well and drink menu. Buy one item on the Lounge Menu and receive the second for half off.

1101 Scenic Highway. 432-0539 or anguspensacola.com.

22 | INDEPENDENT NEWS | SEPTEMBER 09, 2010 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET

RUNNING WILD SIX AT SIX 6 a.m. Various abilities from a 10 minute per mile pace and faster. Course is six miles, through East Hill, Downtown and North Hill. Stick around for coffee after the run. 435-9222 or werunwild.com.

MCGUIRE’S RUNNING CLUB 6 p.m. weekly. Meet by the doubledecker bus in the parking lot at 5:45 p.m. Start the 5K run/walk at 6 p.m. Wear your McGuire’s t-shirt for free drinks and food specials. mcguiresrunners.com.

UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN KICK-OFF PARTY 5 p.m. Free and open to the public. Enjoy music, prizes, children’s activities and networking. Meet dozens of nonprofit agencies that serve our community and learn how you can help. Sanders Beach Community Center, 913 South I St. 444-7128 or frank@ unitedwayescambia.org.

SIMPLICITY

WOMEN-ONLY MORNING RUNS AT RUNNING WILD 6 a.m.

Tuesdays and Thursdays, weekly. Meet at Running Wild for a steady-pace run for all levels of runners. 3012 E. Cervantes St. 435-9222 or werunwild.com.

TUESDAY NIGHT JAM SESSION 7-9:30 p.m. weekly. Local musicians are invited to attend a weekly jam session to show off and share their talents among other local musicians.

Belmont Arts & Cultural Center, 401 N. Reus St. Free. 429-1222 or belmontartscenter.com.

MUSIC: STEVE FLOYD 6 p.m. Peg Leg Pete’s, 1010 Fort Pickens Road, Pensacola Beach. No cover. 932-4139 or peglegpetes.com.

MUSIC: MIKE QUINN 9 p.m. End O’ the Alley in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

WEDNESDAY 09.15 ART CLASS AT PAINTING WITH A TWIST 7-9 p.m. Bring your favorite bottle of wine or beverage, and paint a picture step by step that you will take home. 16 years and older. Theme: Funky Chandelier. Painting with a Twist, 4771 Bayou Blvd., Suite C-11. $35. 471-1450 or paintingwithatwist.com/pensacola.

OPEN MIC NIGHT 7 p.m. End of the Line Café, 610 E. Wright St. 429-0336 or eotlcafe.com.

CAPT’N FUN RUNNERS 6 p.m. Distances vary from 3 to 10 miles. Pace varies. After the run, enjoy the social meeting at Capt’ N Fun on the Boardwalk. Quietwater Boardwalk, Pensacola Beach. captnfun.net.

LUNCH & LEARN AT DISTINCTIVE KITCHENS 12 p.m. Join DK for a cooking class during your lunch hour. Enjoy unique menus while learning cooking tips from their guest chef. For those who are not on a tight lunch schedule, enjoy a bottle of wine of choice from the wine shop with no upcharge. Distinctive Kitchens, 29 Palafox Place. $15. 438-4688 or dk4u.com.

LADIES NIGHT AT FISH HOUSE 5 p.m. weekly. Guest performance by Rumor Mill. All drinks $2. 600 S. Barracks St. Free.

470-0003 or goodgrits.com.

WINE DOWN WEDNESDAY AT JACKSON’S 5 p.m. Every Wednesday evening at Jackson’s Steakhouse, every bottle on their award-winning wine list is half off. 400 S. Palafox St. 469-9898 or jacksons.goodgrits.com.

IN MARTINI NIGHT 5-8 p.m. Every Wednesday, join IN Publisher Rick Outzen and get a sneak peak at tomorrow’s issue of the IN. You can pass on any news tips to the publisher himself. Live music. Drink and food specials. The Global Grill, 27 S. Palafox Place. 469-9966.

BUSINESS ON THE BALCONY AT WILL CALL 5:30-7:30 p.m. weekly. Enjoy $1 Miller Lite and PBR drafts, $4 Grey Goose drinks, free appetizers and dinner specials while you network.

Will Call Sports Grille, 22 S. Palafox Place. 912-8644 or willcallsports.com.

WIND DOWN WEDNESDAY AT ANGUS 5 p.m. to close weekly.

Enjoy $4 select martinis, $4 premium craft beers and half-off appetizers. 1101 Scenic Highway. 432-0539 or anguspensacola.com.

WOWOBLUE COMEDY NIGHT AT SAVANNA BLUE 9 p.m.-1 a.m. weekly. $5 cover, late night menu with full bar, and daily specials including two-for-one well drinks and domestic drafts. 4238 W. Fairfield Drive. 453-2980 or savannablue.net.

music

IN INTERVIEW: THE HELVETICA EFFECT SAVING THE WORLD, ONE SHOW AT A TIME

BY ROB “BUBBS” HARRIS

Calling for a while now and we know the guys in October Skies, so it should be a pretty good show.

F

t. Walton Beach’s resident rockers, The Helvetica Effect, know the importance of honing their craft and writing the best original music they possibly can.

That being said, they also understand the importance of getting the bills paid, which is why they fill their nights by playing cover shows around the Gulf Coast.

While a job is a job, founding member Rob Perez believes that it’s the original music that remains the driving force behind the band. Before THE display their talents at the “Rock for the Coast” benefit later this month, they will play a much more intimate show with local favorites Forever’s Calling at The Handlebar.

IN caught up with Perez to talk about all of the cool things happening within the “Effectee” camp.

IN: The Helvetica Effect has been playing a lot around the FWB/Destin area, but you’re just now starting to line up more shows here in Pensacola. Are you excited to come over here and play for some new crowds?

Perez: We sure are. We have played Pensacola a time or two before with our buddies in Needless. It’s cool to be lining up more gigs over there because we’re so used to all of the places we play in our local area that it’ll be fun to travel outside of our little niche and share our music with some fresh faces. The show at The Handlebar is going to be great.

We’ve been wanting to play with Forever’s

tit for tat at

IN: How long have you guys been together?

Perez: THE has been a functioning band for about a year and a half.

We’ve been a three-piece band for just at a year.

Our former second guitarist had family duties to take care of, so we decided to move forward as just the three of us. Doing it that way, we have a lot more space to work with musically, which brought out several new dimensions to our sound. That, and the fact that I work with the greatest musicians I have ever met.

IN: Aside from trying to fill as many dates as possible with original shows, you guys bide the rest of your time by doing cover gigs. How do you like doing those?

Perez: Hey, it pays the bills. Doing cover gigs allows us to go out and play original shows without immediately suffering afterwards.

If we could just make money from playing originals, that would be great, but we all have things to take care of, which we provide for by playing covers.

IN: Speaking of covers, the only time Lady Gaga was tolerable to my ears was when I heard you do a cover of “Bad Romance.”

Although I wouldn’t consider that to be a very obscure tune, your version was quite unique. What made you decide to throw that into the mix?

Perez: Why not? When we choose the cover songs that we play, we always try to look for the ones that we can mold into our own style.

We don’t really concern ourselves with what everybody wants to hear, but rather with what fits our band. When “Bad Romance” came out, it just seemed like it would be a fun song to rock the hell out, so we started toying with it until it had that certain THE vibe. Now, it’s probably one of our favorite

tunes to cover, just because it’s so much fun and people go nuts when they hear it.

IN: Now that you are starting to branch out a little more, are there any plans to set up some more extensive tours? I understand you were talking to the guys in Jacobi Wichita (Eyeball Records—Connecticut) about doing an East Coast jaunt.

Perez: Yes, definitely. Right now, priority number one is getting back into the studio and recording the debut full-length. When we did the EP, we weren’t quite satisfied with the quality, so working on the new recording is of the utmost importance. We’re in preproduction now, so we should wrap that up pretty soon. After that, we will start looking to book some small tours, but that will not be until right at the end of the year, if not the beginning of next year. We’d love to go out with the guys from Jacobi Wichita. We had a great time playing a few shows with them in Florida and making friends. It would be nice to hit the road with those dudes.

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IN: After The Handlebar show, your next Pensacola gig is playing the “Rock for the Coast” benefit. Are you excited to be lending your talents to such a good cause?

Perez: Of course we are. The benefit show, if successful, is going to be the biggest show of all time for us. I really think that we are doing some real good with this. Not only will it raise money for what I think couldn’t be a better cause, but it will also break down some of the walls within the local scene that have been up for far too long. We couldn’t be more proud to be a part of it.

IN: Well, it certainly seems like you guys are keeping busy. Good luck with everything.

Perez: Thank you. We certainly try to stay as busy as possible. We don’t plan on going anywhere any time soon. As long as the “Effectees” are into what we do, we will keep doing it. If not, we’ll keep doing it anyway. info@inweekly.net

THE HELVETICA EFFECT WITH FOREVER’S CALLING AND OCTOBER SKIES

WHEN: 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11 WHERE: The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. COST: $5 DETAILS: myspace.com/thehelveticaeffect

INDEPENDENT NEWS | SEPTEMBER 09, 2010 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |

23

PROOF O.K. BY:___________________________________________ O.K. WITH CORRECTIONS BY:___________________________ REVISE: YES

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24 | INDEPENDENT NEWS | SEPTEMBER 09, 2010 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET

ADVERTISER: PAPA DON PRODUCTIONS SIZE: 10 PUBLICATION: PENSACOLA NJ

NO

culture

SHAKING UP THE SCENE

PENSACOLA LITTLE THEATRE BRINGS ELVIS’ MUSIC TO THE STAGE IN “ALL SHOOK UP”

BY JENNIE MCKEON

sistant director, Kathy Holsworth. “The whole play takes its course in 24 hours. By the end of the play, we have three weddings; it’s Broadway magic.”

The show begins with Chad, the part Elvis part James Dean character, played by Zachary Holcombe, who just got out of jail. No song could fit the scene more than “Jailhouse Rock,” of course. At rehearsal, the dancers swing their hips in unison, giving so much energy you’d think it was opening night.

When Holcombe is on the stage, you know he’s not supposed to be Elvis. Holcombe is tanner, more muscular Photo by Noel Nichols for Pensacola Little Theatre and his voice is higher, f you’re an Elvis fan, then “All Shook but he’s just as much the heartthrob as the Up” is the play for you. If you’re not King of Rock and Roll. an Elvis fan, then “All Shook Up” is “He’s the spirit of Elvis,” Holsworth still the play for you. said. “He was a natural for the part.”

“All Shook Up” is a jukebox It’s the spirit of Elvis, but Holcombe musical—meaning the music is all Elvis, puts his own “swing” into Chad. While the but the story, reminiscent of Shakespeare’s ensemble cast are practicing their parts, “Twelfth Night,” is all drama. The play was Holcombe is off to the side practicing spins written by Joe DiPietro and made its Broad- so much it could make you dizzy. Singing way debut in 2005. Now, the play is coming and dancing is no easy feat, but Holcombe to the Pensacola Little Theatre Friday, Sept. makes it look effortless.

10 at 7:30 p.m.

“It’s a marathon from start to finish,” “The play is part ‘Pleasantville,’ part Holcombe said about the play. “It’s a pretty ‘Grease,’ and part ‘Happy Days,’” said asbig beast.”

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It’s a marathon just trying to keep up with the plot. In true Shakespeare form, the play has a “he loves her, but she loves another” storyline. When the character Chad lands in a small town after his motorcycle breaks down, he meets the town’s mechanic, Natalie, played by Sarah Javier. Natalie falls for Chad, but instead of just telling him how she feels, she pretends to be a guy and befriend her crush.

“I played the same role in ‘Twelfth Night,’” said Javier, who is a recent Tulane University graduate. “It was an interesting crossover. I really like the character; Natalie is one of the most honest, open characters.”

Javier is quiet and polite in conversation, but when she takes to the stage you can’t help but notice her. When she plays Chad’s friend, her deep voice and mannerisms are more alter-ego than male mockery.

When she sings, the whole room is filled with her voice.

Another lovesick character is Lorraine, the daughter of Silvia, the owner of the local honky-tonk. She’s in love with the mayor’s son, but his family would never approve of her.

“It’s fun to play Lorraine because she has a lot of spunk and she’s not afraid to do what she wants,” said Amy Pearson.

“It’s fun to be outspoken. I’m a little more introverted.”

It took two days to cast the play—a role the directors took very seriously. No part was overlooked.

“We were looking for experienced triple threats,” said director, Roy Bracken. “Even casting the ensemble was important. The ensemble is the heartbeat of any show.”

With a title like “All Shook Up,” you’d think there would be diehard Elvis fans lined up around the block to audition for

the play. Instead, some of the cast are ambivalent toward the King.

“I have the same birthday as Elvis,” Pearson said. “I love his music, but on my birthday, I’d like it if the radio didn’t play Elvis all day long.”

“I wouldn’t call myself a fanatic, but I respect his musical career,” Holcombe said.

“He’s an icon.”

By the time the cast had to learn Elvis’ 39 number one hits, the music started to grow on them.

“I’ve become an Elvis fan throughout the show,” Javier said. “I really like ‘A Little Less Conversation’—it’s definitely the grooviest song.”

By the end of the play, the whole cast is wearing blue suede shoes, and you’ll want a pair of your own. After 39 tunes, you’re bound to be humming one of them when you walk out of the theatre. An Elvis fan or not, this high-energy show will definitely shake you up.

“Enjoy the ride because it’s going to be a great one,” Holcombe said. info@inweekly.net

PENSACOLA LITTLE THEATRE PRESENTS “ALL SHOOK UP”

WHEN: Sept. 10-12, 17-19, 24-26, with Friday and Saturday shows at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m.

WHERE: Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. COST: $15-$25 DETAILS: pensacolalittletheatre.com, or 432-2042

DISCOUNT FIRST RUN

MOVIES • CINETAINMENT FOOD & SPIRITS CINETAINMENT

DINNER & A MOVIE ONLY $11

RESIDENT EVIL: AFTERLIFE (R) (1:00) (3:00) 5:15, 7:15, 9:20, 11:05 NANNY MCPHEE RETURNS (PG) Regular Admission Prices: (12:00) (2:15) 4:45, 7:00, 9:10 THE AMERICAN (R) $4.50 matinees $6.50 after 6pm (12:30) (2:35) 4:40, 6:55-,9:00 $4.50 for seniors, military & THE LOTTERY TICKET (PG-13) students all the time (12:45) (2:50) 5:00, 7:25, 9:30

476-4545

•

SILVERSCREENTHEATRE.COM INDEPENDENT NEWS | SEPTEMBER 09, 2010 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |

25

news of the weird THE CONTINUING CRISIS Texas State Rep. Joe Driver, an 18-year House veteran whose website notes his opposition to “big spending habits of liberals in government,” was revealed in August to have been routinely double-billing the government for travel expenses and to have been genuinely surprised to learn that voters and colleagues might find that improper.

Wrote the Associated Press: “Driver insists he thought the double-billing was perfectly appropriate -- until talking about it with the AP,” at which point he appeared to change his mind. “Well, it doesn’t sound (appropriate) now (if) you bring it up that way,” he admitted. “(To learn that) pretty well screws my week.” For at least five years, Driver had been collecting from the government for expenses already reimbursed by his re-election campaign.

• Every weekend for the last four years, parishioners from the New Beginnings Ministries church in Warsaw, Ohio, have gathered in front of The Fox Hole strip club in nearby Newcastle and tried to shame customers by photographing them and posting their license plate numbers on the Internet, and brandishing hellfire-threatening signs.

Recently, however, Fox Hole’s strippers joined the duel, congregating on Sundays in front of New Beginnings, wearing bikinis and “see-through” shorts, dancing scandalously, squirting each other with jumbo water guns, and wielding their own Bible-quoting signs to greet the day’s worshippers.

DEMOCRACY IN ACTION Wisconsin law permits independent candidates five-word statements to accompany their names on the ballot, to signal voters just as the words “Republican” and “Democrat” are signals, but Milwaukee Assembly candidate Ieshuh Griffin was ruled in July to have gone too far with her statement (“NOT the ‘whiteman’s bitch’”) (her capitalization and punctuation). Griffin said the decision baffled her since “everyone” she spoke with understood exactly what she meant.

OOPS! Joseph Wheeler filed a $12 million lawsuit in August against Prince George’s Hospital in Upper Marlboro, Md., over its treatment following a June 23 car accident.

He was admitted with serious injuries, but hospital staff mistakenly marked him for next-day cancer surgery, and when he protested and tried to leave, two muscular staff “security” men restrained him, dishing out even more pain. Yelled one, according to the lawsuit, “Get off the f loor, bitch!” “I don’t care who you think you are. This is my camp.” (The next day Wheeler talked his way out and over to St. Mary’s Hospital, where he was treated for four broken ribs, a sprained shoulder, a ruptured spleen and a concussion.)

THE WEIRDO-AMERICAN COMMUNITY John

Theodore Anderson (also known, in his court filings, as “John-Theodore:Anderson) filed a lawsuit in August against an Alpine,

26 | INDEPENDENT NEWS | SEPTEMBER 09, 2010 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET

BY CHUCK SHEPPARD Utah, attorney who had acquired land from a man who Anderson said owed him $4,000 for “consulting” work. The attorney, and the previous owner, denied Anderson’s claim, provoking Anderson to file a lien on the land -- for $918 billion (a mark-up only quixotically related to the $4,000).

However, by the time Anderson got around to filing the lawsuit to defend the lien, his $4,000 claim had become $38 quadrillion (38 thousand trillion dollars).

LEAST COMPETENT CRIMINALS Unclear on the Concept: (1) In Maine Township, Ill., Mr. Janusz Owca was arrested in August for choking his wife and was booked into jail and given his traditional phone call.

With police listening, Owca called his wife and threatened to kill her. (2) Veteran criminal Nathan Pugh, 49, walked in to a Wells Fargo bank in Dallas on July 26 and presented his holdup note to a teller (claiming to have a “bom”). The teller told Pugh that she could not release large amounts of money without proper ID and convinced Pugh to turn over both a Texas state ID card and his Wells Fargo debit card, both in his own name. Police arrived just as Pugh was leaving and after an attempt to grab a hostage, he was arrested.

(He even failed with the hostage—a woman carrying a child—who still managed to take Pugh to the floor.)

RECURRING THEMES More British Local Council Wisdom: (1) Nottinghamshire County Council recently refused, for the third time, to issue a disabled-parking permit to British Army Cpl. Johno Lee, whose right leg was amputated below the knee following an explosion in Iraq. Lee said a staff member told him he was “young” and that his situation “might get better.” (2) The Romford council’s housing administrator ruled in July that, notwithstanding sweltering temperatures and kids’ summer vacations, vinyl wading pools were prohibited -- as safety hazards, in that firefighters could possibly trip over them if responding to emergencies.

A NEWS OF THE WEIRD CLASSIC (SEPTEMBER 1998) Police in Bonita Springs, Fla.,

charged Randall James Baker, 45, with aggravated battery in August (1998) for shooting his friend Robert Callahan in the head -- sending him to the hospital. A sheriff ’s spokesman said Baker and Callahan had a playful tradition between them -- that any time either of them acquired a new baseball-type cap, the other would try to shoot the little button off the top.

This time, according to the sheriff, alcohol played a bigger role than usual.

Send your Weird News to Chuck Shepherd, P.O. Box 18737, Tampa, Fla., 33679 or weirdnews@earthlink.net, or go to www.NewsoftheWeird.com.

FROM UNIVERSAL PRESS SYNDICATE CHUCK SHEPHERD’S NEWS OF THE WEIRD

by Chuck Shepherd COPYRIGHT 2010 CHUCK SHEPHERD

to advertise call 438-8115

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last word

We’re looking for freelance writers for our expanded A&E section. Music, dance, theater, visual arts and literature are areas we want to cover with more depth and insight than any publication in the region. If you have style and pizzaz, the IN wants you. Please, e-mail a cover letter, résumé and recent clips to:

joani@inweekly.net

MICHELLE HANCOCK

EDUCATION DIRECTOR, PENSACOLA LITTLE THEATRE

Log Log On On To To See See Videos!

Videos!

www.NabardFitness.com www.NabardFitness.com THE UNIVERSAL CROSSWORD EDITED BY TIMOTHY E. PARKER HAVE A BAA DAY by Carl Cranby

ACROSS 1 Mixed-breed dog 5 Lady of the house 10 “La ___ Bonita” (Madonna hit) 14 Bushy hairdo 15 Biggest city in Nebraska 16 Run ___ (accumulate debt at the bar) 17 Taking a risk sheepishly?

20 Board, in a rooming house 21 Deep desire 22 Golf ball holder 23 By means of 25 Ancient ­Chinese money 27 White-and-yellow flower 29 From the beginning 31 Most of the Western Hemisphere (with “the”) 34 An anagram for “rats” 35 Rubbernecker 36 Sheepish youngsters?

40 Raccoon cousins 41 Verdi classic 4 4 Tartan wearer 47 Alit 49 Buchholz of “The ­Magnificent Seven” 50 Tempting garden 52 Draw to a close 53 “What Kind of Fool ___?”

54 Barbecue bit 57 Autumn bloomer 59 Sheepish game for tots?

64 Europe’s tallest active volcano 65 Habituate (to) 66 Myanmar neighbor 67 Children’s connectibles 68 Mythical woodland

What is your chief characteristic?

Flexibility What do you appreciate most about your friends?

They always make me feel welcome.

Who is your favorite hero in fiction?

Hal Incandenza Who is your favorite heroine in fiction?

Dorothy Gale What is the best thing you have ever won?

A checkers game PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

deity 69 Swine swill DOWN 1 ___ wheels (sporty rims) 2 Craft in the tabloids, briefly 3 Three-hulled sailboat 4 Vocal pitch 5 Cash, slangily 6 Do a ­comedian’s job 7 Not “dis,” in Brooklyn 8 “You there!” at sea 9 Hair on a horse’s neck 10 Completion to “proverb” or “different” 11 Radio broadcast interference 12 City near San Diego 13 Monasteries 18 Gangland guns 19 Blind vocalist Bocelli 23 Chocolate factory need 24 No ___, ands or buts 26 Place to go on

What did your mother always tell you?

“You can’t save the world.”

base 28 Aviator What is the worst idea you’ve ever had?

30 Burps, technically Staying with my sister for longer than five days 32 “Say Hey” Hall-of-Famer 33 Be human, accordWhat is your favorite food? ing to a saying Double-dipped, chocolate-covered peanuts 35 Words with “bad ­example” or “high standard” Which talent would you most like to have?

37 Forum platforms The ability to tell fascinating stories at parties 38 “Green Eggs and Ham” guy What movie do you love to watch repeatedly?

39 Pertaining to stars “Strictly Ballroom” 42 Wolf pup’s home 43 What ­summers do 4 4 Did a potter’s work What was your most embarrassing moment?

45 Wake up Jacking the back end of my mother’s station wagon up on a 46 Familiarize with cemented-in mailbox pole when I was 17 new surroundings 47 ___ of two evils 48 “Deal me in” What historical figure do you despise the most? indicator Bernard Gui 51 Cheese producer 55 African ­wading What TV show is your guilty pleasure? bird 56 ___ fide Who watches TV when there’s theater? (authentic) 58 Conger line?

What is the last book you read?

60 ___ in k­ angaroo “The Double” by José Saramago (spelling aid) 61 Ump’s call 62 It’s pitched by a What is your theme song? suitor “Hammer to Fall” by Queen 63 The sixth sense INDEPENDENT NEWS | SEPTEMBER 09, 2010 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET | 27

INDEPENDENT NEWS | SEPTEMBER 09, 2010 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |