PLANET WEEKLY 495 by The Planet Weekly

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OCTOBER 8 + OCTOBER 22

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>>> planetweeklyissue494 HIGH TIDE SPORTS 23 BAMA RECRUITING UPDATE // GARY HARRIS

STORIES 5 JASON ISBELL: A CHANGED MAN

// ALAN SCULLY

When Jason Isbell walks on stage these days, fans are quite literally seeing a changed man.

13 FOODS TO EAT WHILE UNDERGOING CANCER TREATMENT //RACHEL STEINER

MANAGING EDITOR

W I L L I AM BA R S HOP

COVER DESIGN

L AU R A L I N E B E R R Y

EVENTS

WILLIAM BARSHOP

ROAD TRIP

T R E Y B R OOK S

RESTAURANT GUIDE DOC FRANKENSTEIN

PRODUCTION

L AU R A L I N E B E R R Y

IMAGES

Images: Creative Common License unless otherwise credited.

ADVERTISING MA R T Y R OBERSON 205.523.4 668

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS REGINALD ALLEN R A I H A B A J WA WILLIAM BARSHOP CO U R T N E Y BLA N CH A R D K A I T LY N B LO U N T TREY BROOKS KELSEY CAMERON JORDAN CISSELL MARGIE GOLDSMITH SHEENA QUIZON GREGG GARY HARRIS C I N DY H U G G I N S KEVIN LEDGEWOOD BRETT REID VA N R O B E R T S JON ROGERS RACHEL STEINER ALEJANDRA TENORIO

Planet Weekly P. O . B o x 2 3 1 5 Tuscaloosa, AL 35403 Phone: 205.792.7239 Email: publisher@theplanetweek ly.com Please direct correspondence to: publisher@theplanetweekly.com The Planet Weekly is a proud member of The West Alabama Chamber of Commerce. © 2015 All rights reserved. THE PLANET WEEKLY is a registered trademark. Planet Weekly is published every other Thursday. No part of this publication including editorials may be reproduced, in whole or part, by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without the Publisher’s prior expressed written consent. One copy of each issue of THE PLANET WEEKLY is free to each of our readers. Any reader who takes more than four copies without expressed permission of the publisher shall be deemed to have committed theft. The views and opinions of the authors of articles appearing in this publication may not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Publisher.

19 HANGING OUT WITH THE BLACKWATER THEIVES // ALEJANDRA TENORIO

A band with a very particular, unique sound that can only be described under the mixture of jazz, funk, and psychedelic music. UA ATHLETICS

PUBLISHER

L I N DA W. J OHN S ON

Cancer treatments can cause one to lose their appetite all together, but it is a crucial time that one is supplying their body with the best nutrients.

ENTERTAINMENT 6 BOOKS 10-12 RESTAURANT GUIDE / WINE & BEER 14 MOVIE REVIEW

FEATURE 7 FIREKID: THE RISE OF DILLON HODGES

15 PETS

// REGINALD ALLEN

Dillon Hodges is a modern-day Miniver Cheevy.

16 EVENTS 18 ROAD TRIP 20 PUZZLEMANIA / EDITORIAL CARTOON 21 HOROSCOPE

COVER ILLUSTRATION BY KEVIN LEDGEWOOD

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hen Jason Isbell walks on stage these days, fans are quite literally seeing a changed man. In January 2012, Isbell went into rehab to kick an alcohol addiction that had been a regular part of his routine for years. He sees the results of that decision every night when he performs with his backing band, the 400 Unit. “It’s made a huge difference,” Isbell said of his sobriety in a recent phone interview. “First of all, I can hear myself. I know a lot of people don’t realize this, but the first thing to go when you’re drinking is your hearing. Obviously, by the end of the night, your vision can be blurry, too. But the hearing goes first. I was spending a lot of time yelling and trying to hear myself through the course of the night. Now I don’t have that problem. I feel like it’s been really good for my voice. My voice is a lot stronger, a lot younger sounding than it was a few years ago. And I have little bit more stamina. I’m in much better shape than I was when I was drinking.” Isbell also can deliver some of his best shows because his songwriting has hit new heights on the two albums he has made since going through rehab – 2013’s “Southeastern” and “Something More Than Free,” which was released on July 17. “Southeastern” was a watershed album for Isbell, who began his career in the Drive-By Truckers and wrote several standout songs (“Decoration Day,” “Never Gonna Change”) during his tenure in that acclaimed band from 2001 to 2007. Isbell went solo after his split with the Drive-By Truckers, releasing three solid albums – “Sirens of the Ditch” (2007), “Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit” (2009) and “Here We Rest” (2011) — before “Southeastern” presented a different side to his music. Instead of the hard-hitting, plugged-in country tinged rock that had characterized his first three albums, Isbell, for the most part, downshifted on “Southeastern” into more of a spare, often acoustic setting, with a collection of sharply drawn, often lovely songs. Written in the aftermath of his decision to quit drinking – and as he was falling in love with his future wife, fellow musician Amanda Shires — the lyrics showed an unflinching honesty and provided a window into the damage his drinking lifestyle had done and how he was finding a way to a better life as a sober, recovering alcoholic. “Southeastern” also cemented Isbell’s reputation as one of music’s most gifted songwriters, earning him three top awards from the Americana Music Association — Artist of the Year, Album of the Year and Song of the Year for the tune “Cover Me Up.” Given what “Southeastern” did for him, it would only make sense that

DAVID MCCLISTER

JASON ISBELL // A CHANGED MAN W

Isbell wouldn’t break the mold created with “Southeastern” on “Something More Than Free.” And indeed, the new album sticks largely to the same acousticleaning, laid back sound of that previous album. But don’t think that “Something More Than Free” took on its musical personality because it was the right career move for Isbell. “Whatever album I’m putting out at the time is going to be exactly where I am because I’ve got to go out and play it a lot and I certainly don’t want to be up there on stage wishing I was playing something different,” Isbell said. “That’s exactly where I am at this particular time, and that might change as the years go by. But if it does, it will definitely reflect itself in the lyrics.” And “Something More Than Free” definitely suggests that Isbell, who is now happily married and had a baby girl with Shires in September, is in a decidedly better place. “I’ve become a lot more comfortable in the world, that’s for sure,” he said. “When I was writing ‘Southeastern,’ I’d just recently gotten sober. For me, that was a major turning point in my life. It changed things I did on a day-to-day basis. My whole routine was upended. It took me some time to get used to that and figure out how do I keep myself entertained. How do I keep myself occupied, keep my hands busy? So to get through that period, I wound up reading a lot and consuming

a lot of different kinds of art and practicing my own, writing songs and playing guitar. After the time period had passed and it was time to make another record, I just felt a lot more comfortable in my own skin. I had another routine that worked really well for me and I had become closer to some of my friends and family members. Even when I’m not writing on ‘Something More Than Free’ from my own perspective, when the narrator is not necessarily me, I think I’m finding these characters can be a little less desperate than they’ve been on records in the past.” The new album certainly has songs that seem inspired by Isbell’s own life and experiences. “Children Of Children,” for instance, expresses first-person regret about how a mother sacrifices her own ambitions and dreams to raise her child – feeling a measure of guilt for “All those years you took from her/Just by being born.” And several songs suggest that the search for happiness and meaning concludes when a man finds that one special girl – an idea that seems close enough to Isbell’s recent life. But more often, Isbell seems to draw from sources outside of his life, using his realistic and finely detailed prose to tell stories that are flush with emotion and lived-through truths. For instance, “Speed Trap Town,” about getting out of a too small town and away from a state trooper father who put the speed trap into the town, and the title song, which draws a picture of a man who is still searching for more in life, but sounds ready to accept

that the work-a-day life he leads might have to be reward enough, sound like they should resonate with most any listener. As strong as Isbell is as a lyricist, he continues to show that he’s no slouch when it comes to music, either. Gently assertive country-tinged songs like “How To Forget,” “If It Takes A Lifetime,” “24 Frames” all of which come with strong vocal melodies and plenty of smartly applied instrumental touches from violinist Shires and the 400 Unit (drummer Chad Gamble, keyboardist Derry deBorja, guitarist Sadler Vaden and bassist Jimbo Hart) that nicely enhance the basic structures of the song. Isbell and the 400 Unit are now starting what figures to be a lengthy tour cycle behind the new album. They’re playing about a half dozen songs from “Something More Than Free,” several tunes from “Southeastern” and rounding out the live set with a few songs from Isbell’s first three solo albums and tunes from his time in the Drive-By Truckers. The emphasis on newer material means the shows lean more toward quieter songs, a situation that could slow the energy of a show. But Isbell said he hasn’t had many occasions where he felt he should have rocked up his show. “I didn’t know what to expect when we first started touring behind Southeastern’ because you don’t want to lull anybody to sleep or lose their attention,” he said. “But it’s really been incredible how the crowds seem to be just as excited for the slow, sad songs as they are for the old rockers.”

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OCTOBER 8 + OCTOBER 22

>>> B O O K S | C O U R T N E Y B L A N C H A R D

VISIONS OF THE BLACK BELT I

n Visions of the Black Belt, Robin McDonald and Valerie Pope Burnes offer a richly illustrated tour of the Black Belt, the fertile arc that represents the cultural efflorescence of Alabama’s heartland. Like knowledgeable friends, McDonald and Burnes guide readers through the Black Belt’s towns and architecture and introduce the region’s great panoply of citizens, farmers, craftspeople, cooks, writers, and musicians. A constellation of Black Belt towns arose during Alabama’s territorial decades, communities like Selma, Camden, Eutaw, Tuskegee, Greenville, and many more. Visions of the Black Belt recounts their stories and others, such as Demopolis’s founding by exiles from Napoleon’s France. As an escarpment of clouds scuds across an indigo sky, the ruins of Alabama’s lost capital of Cahaba reveal the secrets of its lost squares. Also on this picturesque tour are the Black Belt’s homes, from artless cabins wreathed in fern to ozymandian manses wrapped by stately columns, such as Kirkwood and Reverie. Among the emblematic houses of worship lovingly photographed in Visions of the Black Belt is Prairieville’s St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, noted for its “carpenter gothic” style. Also reflecting the region’s history of faith are poignant graveyards such as Greenville’s Pioneer Cemetery with its homespun memorials of seashell-and-concrete and the elegant marbles clad in ebon lichen of Selma’s Live Oak Cemetery. In photos and text, McDonald and Burnes bring to life the layers of history that shaped the Black Belt’s tastes, sounds, and colors. Their gastronomic discoveries include the picant crawfish of the Faunsdale Bar & Grill and GainesRidge Dining Club’s famed Black Bottom pie. They bring the sounds of the Black Belt to life by presenting a wide range of musicians and musical events, from bona fide blues and soul masters to Eutaw’s Black Belt Roots Festival. Including two maps and more than 370 full-color photographs, Visions of the Black Belt offers a timeless message of faith, determination, and the rich simplicity of living in harmony with the rhythms of the land and nature. Published in Cooperation with the Black Belt Treasures Cultural Arts Center, Camden, Alabama AUTHOR Writer and photographer Robin McDonald

OCTOBER 8 + OCTOBER 22

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is the author of Heart of a Small Town: Photographs of Alabama Towns. Valerie Pope Burnes is an assistant professor of history and former director of the Center for the Study of the Black Belt at the University of West Alabama. REVIEWS “Illustrated with absolutely stunning collections of images, the chapters individually and collectively offer a feast for the eyes. Images range from the most humble of structures to plantation homes and churches that would be described as magnificent in any time or place. While the authors do not skirt the issues of race, poverty, and class that obtain, they simply state the facts. There is an evenness of tone, an appreciation of the region as it has been and as it is now that makes this book less about what we have lost than about what we still have. Therefore, to my mind, this is the most valuable kind of work for a general reader: one that cherishes the past but brings us fully into the moment and even looks forward.” —Jay Lamar, coeditor of The Remembered Gate: Memoirs by Alabama Writers “Like rural America everywhere these days, Alabama’s storied Black Belt is undergoing profound change. Yet its gentle landscapes—suffused with the sense of a haunted, romantic past—hold something timeless. And added to its natural beauty is a rich layering of architecture, nearly two hundred years’ worth, that tells a very human story at once wrenching and inspiring. In words and gorgeous, seductive images, the authors have captured a mood, an intangible spell—that anyone who lingers in this very special place must sooner or later feel. Here we have a book that seems sure to become an Alabama classic: a lovely record as well as a nostalgic evocation.” —Robert Gamble, author of Historic Architecture in Alabama

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Photos Courtesy of Reggie Allen

FIREKID // THE RISE OF DILLON HODGES

Dillon Hodges is a modern-day Miniver Cheevy.

ike the poem’s titular character, Hodges came to the realization that, maybe, he was born a generation too late. His closest friends have always been old enough to be his Grandparents and he does not care one bit. One might ask why. The answer is simple: They shared a passion that just became cool. Bluegrass. With the monumental success of Mumford and Sons, The Civil Wars and The Carolina Chocolate Drops, the Folk-BluegrassAmericana genre has officially gone mainstream. But for Hodges, the music is far from new. He has been listening, following and playing bluegrass for almost all of his life. But the overnight success of the rustic genre was in Hodges favor. “So, early on, I felt I was born a half-century too late but then at that time Americana became a huge success and Muscle Shoals was doing really well. On one hand, I was coming in at the right time.” Hodges, now 24, has now joined the ranks of the mainstream music world. Recently, the bluegrass singer was signed to Atlantic Records, and, as of, last week he debuted his new album “Firekid.” Hodges has since received praise from major outlets like Paste Magazine and MTV. Last September, Hodges took time to speak with the Planet Weekly from New York City about his new album and his humble rise to fame. When asked about what it was like being signed to major record label, Hodges’ answer was simple: “I mean, it’s the dream, right” Hodges said. “I guess it’s what you want when you are an artist.” Born and raised in Florence, Alabama, the Firekid artist said that picking Atlantic Records was a no a brainer. The legendary record label has had a rich history in the Muscle Shoals area. It was also due to the Muscle Shoals documentary released in 2013 that he was able to narrow down his choices. Hodges faintly knew the history of Shoals area, but was surprised to learn just how involved Atlantic was with bringing musical awareness to Alabama. The Shoals’ FAME studios helped launch the careers of The Osmonds and Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. In addition to this, FAME studios has collaborated with The Rolling Stones, Otis Redding, Etta James Kenny Chesney, the Dixie Chicks and many more. “I don’t mind be associated with the likes of Led Zeppelin and Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin,” Hodges chuckled.” Hodges started playing guitar at 11. He bought a used with a Creed song book at yard sale. Initially, he wanted to learn to play rock to earn the attention of girls. As Hodges recalls, at that time, everyone his age was listening to Puddle of Mudd and

his family, had set a fire in him. “That’s when I realized that I could make something bigger,” Hodges said. Over the next six years, he began to work on his writing and vocals. Two albums later, Firekid was born. But then again, most of his 12-trackalbum is spawned from his experiences growing up in the Shoals. What took almost a year to, Hodges said he had enough material to cut three records. But he realized that many of the songs had the same lyrical themes. As Hodges put it, Firekid is a band project with an ambiguous genre. He finds it interesting on how fans are always trying to classify what kind of category his album falls under. “Most recently, someone called it Incendo Americano, which I thought was interesting,” Hodges said, chuckling. “Another one called it Bombastic Bluegrass or a rave in a cave. My favorite called it Metropolitan Mountain music and I love that. I love the people that think it { the genre} needs to be given a name. To me, it was always roots music without production.” Growing up, Hodges thought he was born a generation too late. But then there are times that he feels where he is supposed to be. “It always feels like I am the right place at the right time,” Hodges said. “ Down to just being born where I was born. It was not a choice of mine, but it happened. There is a definitely a part of me that wonders what would happen, if I didn’t have my neighbor to refuse to teach me creed. If he had just given in, I wouldn’t have learned bluegrass. I wouldn’t be where I am today. What if I hadn’t screwed up and won the national guitar championship at an early age? I would probably be a blue grass instrumentalist.” Firekid is now available on CD and Itunes.

Effective

Nickelback. His neighbor and instrument refused to teach him to play rock. But he discovered Bluegrass instead. His love of the genre stuck, but the girls didn’t. But as the years passed by, the same girls that turned him down were flocking to see the Civil Wars and Mumford and Sons. “It seemed that overnight that bluegrass and Americana music were in the spotlight,” Hodges said.

It served as the inspiration for The Americana Dream, a track off the album. In his late teens, Hodges would go down in his history as the second-youngest person to win the National Flatpicking Guitar Picking contest. He was happy to win, just surprised that it happened so quickly. He was only 17. Hodges planned on maybe winning the contest when he was 30 or something but the premature victory, along with overwhelming response from

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Chamber Ambassadors Sought

Applications are being accepted for our Ambassador program. Any employee of a member firm is eligible. Term is one year and the group meets once a month. Our active Ambassadors group is designed to bridge members with services provided by the Chamber. Ambassadors welcome new members and share ways to get the most of a membership through an informal mentor relationship. They serve as greeters at our events and generally foster good will. This personal contact is a pleasant surprise to the member and a networking experience for the ambassador. Also, the program has proven to develop future Chamber leaders. Visit www.tuscaloosachamber.com for an application. Deadline for submission is Oct. 31. Call 205-758-7588 for details.

Sponsor a 2016 Chamber Event or Program

Market your business, service or product to our 1200+ member by sponsoring a 2016 Chamber event or program! The Chamber’s annual 4th Quarter Drive sponsorship campaign is ON NOW! This volunteer-driven initiative gives each member the opportunity to market their business. This effort will run through October with two simple goals: helping local businesses market products and services while also helping support our mission of providing top-quality events and programs. Contact Kimberly Adams at Kimberly@tuscaloosachamber.com or 205-391-0327.

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>>> RESTAURANTS |

W H E R E TO E AT I N T U S C A LO O SA

BREAKFAST / LUNCH Brown Bag

9425 Jones Road | Northport // 333.0970 Its speciality, fried green tomatoes, joins barbecue plates and fish filets on an extended list of meats and vegetables. Tues 10:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Wed-Sat 10:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. City Cafe 408 Main Ave | Downtown Northport // 758.9171 Established in 1936. Big on food, low on price. Open for breakfast and lunch. Historic downtown Northport. Closed weekends. CountryPride Restaurant 3501 Buttermilk Rd // 554.0215 www.ta.travelcenters.com Breakfast 24 hours. Lunch and Dinner buffet. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 4800 Doris Pate Dr | Exit 76 // 562.8282 www.crackerbarrel.com International House of Pancakes 724 Skyland Blvd // 366.1130 Jack's 1200 Hackberry Lane | Tuscaloosa // 345.1199 Maggie's Diner 1307 Ty Rogers Jr. Ave | Tuscaloosa // 366.0302 Mr. Bill's Family Restaurant 2715 McFarland Blvd | Tuscaloosa // 333.9312

TYE DYE RED // PERMEATES THE PALATE T ie Dye Red Blend wine comes from Tie Dye Cellars in Sonoma, California. In this review of Tie Dye Red Blend wine we’ll go over the price, alcohol content, taste and more of this red blend. Grapes for this wine were harvested from the North Coast AVA of California, which includes the counties of Sonoma, Napa, Solano, Mendocino, Marin and Lake. For this review, I teamed up with a couple buddies who have helped out in the past and have well trusted palates.

APPEARANCE In the glass, this wine is very dark in color. We settled on dark garnet as the best description and saw that very little light was able to shine through. Probably the most interesting thing about the wine’s behavior was its legs. The wine suspended legless in the glass for a few seconds. Then, with reckless abandon, many legs released and it was a “race to the bottom” with the legs falling very fast! We joked… “release the hounds!” All this hinted at a pretty thick wine with a high alcohol content. AROMA And there it was… an intense whiff of alcohol in Tie Dye’s aroma. Tie Dye Red Blend wine alcohol content 14.5% by volume, per the bottle. As a matter of fact, the intensity of the alcohol pretty much masked any other fruit or berry aromas we were expecting. When all was said and done we came up with an aroma of blank ink and maybe a hint of currant. Honestly, (and that’s what we do here)…. not enjoyable. TASTE The alcohol burn continued to the taste. As one person said, “it permeated up through the palate.”

OCTOBER 8 + OCTOBER 22

The flavor was one dimensional, consisting of a black fruit, possibly blackberry or blueberry. It was neither bold, nor complex. But surprisingly, Tie Dye’s a pretty dry wine. Again, not so great. MOUTHFEEL AND TANNINS All three of us agreed the wine had a cottony mouthfeel and what little tannins we could pick up were noticed primarily on the tongue. FINISH The wine’s finish was very long and fully carried by the flavor. We looked to see if any surprise complexities appeared in the finish, since it was so long. But, the wine’s one dimensional character stayed true. Overall Opinion Overall we were all disappointed with this wine. The best things we could say were that it was a “picnic wine” and the immediacy of the pungent flavor was interesting. Oh and the label’s pretty cool! Tie Dye Red Blend wine price $18.99. This price point also concerned us given our experience with this wine. We felt that maybe the blend was too out of control (7 different varietals) and that was causing some of the problems? We also wondered about the quality level of the grapes that were used. All in all, none of would buy this wine. We did team it up with some simple cheese and crackers and found that the taste did improve just a bit. It also muted the alcohol, somewhat. So, if you are going to give this wine a shot, definitely pair it with food.

Panera Bread 1800 McFarland Blvd *402 | Tuscaloosa // 366.8780 Quick Grill 1208 University Blvd | The Strip | Tuscaloosa // 342.0022 Rama Jama’s 1000 Bryant Dr // 750.0901 Closest restaurant to Bryant-Denny Stadium. Sweet Home Food Bar 2218 University Blvd. | Tuscaloosa // 764-9346 Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m. – 4 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. The Waysider 1512 Greensboro Ave // 345.8239 Open for breakfast and lunch. Smoke free.

Epiphany Cafe 19 Greensboro Ave | Downtown Tuscaloosa // 344.5583 “New American cuisine” with a strong emphasis on local produce, organic meats, and sustainable seafood. The menu is always changing and features include an extensive wine list, a large vibrant bar and martini lounge area, as well as patio seating. Reservations are available online at epiphanyfinedining.com or through open table. Hours: Mon–Sat 5 p.m. - until Evangeline’s 1653 McFarland Blvd. North // 752.0830 Located in the Tuscaloosa Galleria. 2004 West Alabama Tourism Award Winning Restaurant. American Eclectic Cuisine. Lunch: Mon–Fri 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Dinner: Tues–Sat 5 p.m. until... Fall: Saturday Brunch. FIVE Bar 2324 6th Street. // 205.345.6089 A restaurant/bar based on simplicity. We offer 5 entrees, 5 red wines, 5 white wines, 5 import beers, 5 domestic, and 5 signature cocktails, to go along with our full liquor bar. Dinner: Sunday - Thursday 5-10; Friday and Saturday 5-12 Lunch: Friday and Saturday 11-3; Sunday Jazz Brunch: 10-3 five-bar.com; 205.345.6089 Kozy’s 3510 Loop Road E | near VA Medical Center // 556.4112 Great locally-sourced foods and live piono music on the weekends. |killionrestaurants.com/kozys/ The Side by Side Restaurant 2410 University Blvd. | Embassy Suites | 561-2500 thesidebysiderestaurant.com

JAPANESE

Benkei Japanese Steak House 1223 McFarland Blvd // 759-5300 Hours: Mon–Thurs 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. | Fri–Sat 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. Bento Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar 1306 University Blvd // 758.7426 Hokkaido Japanese Restaurant 607 15th Street Open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Ichiban Japanese Grill & Sushi 502 15th Street // 752.8844

MEXICAN

Tokyo Japanese Steak & Sushi Bar 6521 Hwy 69 S | Hillcrest Center // 366.1177 Offers steak, seafood, tempura, teriyaki and sushi. Including cooking at your table, if you choose. Sun–Thurs 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. Fri & Sat 5 p.m. - 11 p.m.

Don Tono's 2312 4th Street | Temerson Square // 345.9191

Kobe Steak House 1800 McFarland Blvd E | Midtown Village // 759-1400 Lunch: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Dinner: 4:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. Sat & Sun 11:30 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Chipotle Mexican Grill 1800 McFarland Blvd E | Midtown Village // 391.0140 www.chipotle.com

El Mariachi 3520 McFarland Blvd E |Tuscaloosa // 409-8585 El Rincon (2 locations) 1225 University Blvd | Tuscaloosa // 366.0855 1726 McFarland Blvd | Northport // 330.1274 Fernando's Mexican Grill 824 McFarland Blvd E | Northport // 205.331.4587

ITALIAN

Avenue Pub 405 23rd Avenue

Broadway Pizzeria 2880 Rice Mine Road Northeast Tuscaloosa, // 391.6969

Jalapeno’s Mexican Grill 2001 New Watermelon Rd | Northport // 342.3378

DePalma’s Italian Cafe 2300 University Blvd, Downtown // 759.1879 Menu ranges from sanwiches to finer pasta dishes and pizza. Varied beer and wine selection. Hours: Mon–Thurs 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. | Fri & Sat 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. www.depalmascafe.com

LaGran Fiesta 9770 Hwy 69 S // 345.8871

Little Italy 1130 University Blvd. | Tuscaloosa // 205.345.4343

Los Calientes Mexican Grill 3429 McFarland Blvd E // 553.1558

Mellow Mushroom 2230 University Blvd // 758.0112 Pizzas, calzones, hoagies and more. Open daily for lunch and dinner. www.mellowmushroom.com

Iguana Grill 1800 McFarland Blvd E | Midtown Village // 752.5895

Los Tarascos (2 locations) 1759 Skyland Blvd // 553.8896 3380 McFarland Blvd | Northport // 330.0919 Margarita's Grill 1241 McFarland Blvd E // 343.0300 Moe’s Southwest Grill (2 locations) 2330 McFarland Blvd E // 342.1487 1130 University Blvd // 752.0234 moes.com Pepito’s (2 locations) 1203 University Blvd | The Strip // 391.9028 1301 McFarland Blvd NE // 391.4861 Taco Mama 2104 A University Blvd, Tuscaloosa 409.8173

FINE DINING

Chuck’s Fish 508 Greensboro Ave | Downtown Tuscaloosa // 248.9370 Monday - Thursday 5-10 p.m. and Friday - Saturday 5-11 p.m. Steak, seafood, & sushi specialities. Daily specials: Monday - $20 Bottles of Wine; Tuesday - Ladies Night 1/2 off Domestic Beer and House Wine, Select $5 Martinis, $2 off Select Sushi Rolls for Everyone; Uptown Wednesday - $6 Uptown Shrimp; Featured Cocktails and $20 Bottles of Wine. Cypress Inn 501 Rice Mine Rd // 345.6963 Fax: 345.6997 | www.cypressinnrestaurant.com 2003 Restaurant of Distinction. Beautiful riverfront location. Steaks, seafood and more with Southern flavor. Wine list, full bar. Specialities of the house include Shrimp Cypress Inn and Smoked Chicken with white barbecue sauce. Kid friendly. Closed Saturday lunch. Mike Spiller is featured the first Thursday of every month. Happy Hour- Mon-Fri from 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. featuring 1/2 price appetizers. $2 Domestic Draft Beers and $3 Well cocktails.

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Mr. G’s 908 McFarland Blvd N | Northport // 339-8505 Olive Garden 2100 McFarland Blvd E // 750-0321 Open daily from 11 a.m. www.olivegarden.com

CASUAL DINING

Avenue Pub 405 23rd Avenue // Tuscaloosa Brunch, lunch, and dinner. Specialty cocktails, local pints, bottled beer, and wine. Mon - Fri. 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., Sat. Noon – 11 p.m., Sun.Noon p.m. – 9 p.m. Big Daddy’s Cafe 514 Greensboro Ave | Downtown Tuscaloosa // 759.9925 The Blue Plate Restaurant (Was Northport Diner) 450 McFarland Blvd, Northport // 462-3626 Brumfield's Restaurant 4851 Rice Mine Road | Tue. - Thu.: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m., Fri - Sat.: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m., and Sunday: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Buddy’s Ribs & Steaks 2701 Bridge Ave | Northport // 339.4885 Buffalo Wild Wings 2710 McFarland Blvd // 523.0273 Mon–Wed 11 a.m. - midnight | Thurs–Sat 11 a.m. - 2 a.m. Chicken Salad Chick The Shoppes at Midtown & Essex Square, Northport | Said to be the very best chicken salad that can be found anywhere. www. chickensaladchick.com

>>> B E E R R E V I E W | B R E T T R E I D

HOLY CITY BREWING // CHUCKTOWN FOLLICLE BROWN S ocial media has done so much for the craft beer community as well as the breweries in it. Although, it has probably done more for the people who drink craft beer, because you’ve got this growing list of breweries and beers that you’ve never heard of before with the potential of finding your new favorite. One of the best things about social media is that it can connect you with complete strangers who share similar interests with you. Such is the case I was just in a few days ago. I’ve been following a brewery from South Carolina called Holy City Brewing with a serious desire to get my hands on their beer that is only distributed in South Carolina. Lucky for me, I was also connected with a guy on Instagram who lives in Charleston, where Holy City Brewing is located, and is a big fan of the Holy City brews. I reached out to him and stated that I had been following them for a while and was wondering if he would be interested in a trade for some local stuff from Birmingham. He obliged and shipped out a six-pack of Holy City’s Chucktown Follicle Brown Ale. I chilled it down, cracked one open, and man, oh man, this is everything I wanted it to be. Here are my thoughts: First of all, it’s worth noting that the Holy City Beard and Mustache Society connected me to this guy. They are a group of bearded and mustached gentlemen who compete in competitions around the country as well as globally in addition to raising awareness for local charities. Now, this guy’s name is Paul Roof, and Paul has an interesting story to say the least. When the Chucktown Follicle Brown was released the image on the can shares a resemblance with Paul, but it’s also fair to say that could be any bearded man with enough length and hair product, but that’s neither here nor there. Paul was an associate professor at Charleston Southern University and when his students began to see the beer can, they began posting pictures online and sharing the photos of what seemed to be their professor. The university became aware of this and wasn’t happy to say the least. Paul was terminated from his position and was basically asked what kind of message was being passed on to his students as well as how it affected the Christian environment. Long story short, the whole situation was a bit ludicrous, but the Charleston community as well as a large number of people nationally and globally stood behind Paul in support. Either way, this guy is cool in my book and I’m jealous that my “likeness” didn’t make it on to a beer can first. Anyways, all that aside, let’s get to the most important thing here, the beer. As controversial as it may be, the beer can is actually really cool. I dig the all black can and the weathered serif font; it

all comes together really well and actually makes me think of Charleston. I poured this into a pint glass and saw a deep, dark brown body with a like brown, almost tan colored head that formed up to about 2-2 ½ inches. The aroma from this beer was unlike anything I’ve had before. Most brown ales have that classic nose characteristic of nuttiness or strong caramel scents, but this one is much different in that it has a bit of a brighter, more complex scent. There’s some great chocolate and caramel, but the use of Amarillo hops gives it a citrus aroma that mixes well with the malt forward profile and creates a unique aroma that I had yet to encounter up until this point. Before we go into taste, let me just say that sometimes there are beers that are just good. Like, the flavors are great and everything blends together well and it’s just good. Other times though, there are beers that really force you to sit back and take a moment just to process everything, and this is one of those beers. When you take the first sip, you’re hit with an immediate chocolaty, caramel-y flavor that is pretty standard, but then, as the flavor progresses, you start to pick up these juicy citrus flavors that just develop into this bright, beautiful flavor that creates such a unique flavor profile from such a common style of beer that is often dulled out just make a beer. Each sip finishes fairly dry for the style and you’re left with this great chocolate and citrus flavor on the back of your tongue that leaves you wanting more and wishing that you had a twelve pack of it; at least I did. Mouthfeel is pretty nice overall. Carbonation was a little high for a brown ale in my opinion, but that’s the most I can say that was wrong with it. The dry finish aided in the roasted and chocolate flavors and the citrus really left a nice tartness that complemented the dry mouth as well. I can’t really say anything else about it other than it’s hitting most of the right marks for me. Overall, this is a great introduction to Holy City Brewing. I’m glad I reached out to Paul, and I’m glad that he was such an awesome person for gladly buying and shipping a six-pack of beer to a complete stranger, but he need not worry because I’ll be reciprocating the favor very soon with some of my Birmingham favorites. This beer was wonderfully executed and if this is any indication of how their other beers are, sign me up because this one was fantastic. If you’re ever in Charleston, I highly suggest seeking out the Chucktown Follicle Brown and showing a little support a really good brewery and a really cool guy whose likeness was cool enough for a beer can. Man, I’m still jealous I wasn’t put on a can first.

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>>> RESTAURANTS |

W H E R E TO E AT I N T U S C A LO O S A (CO N T.)

Chili’s 1030 Skyland Blvd | Near McFarland Mall // 750.8881 Fax: 758.7715 // www.chilis.com

Horny's 508 Red Drew Ave | Tuscaloosa // 345.6869 Mon 4 p.m. - 2 a.m. | Tues-Thurs 11 a.m. - 2 a.m. Fri 11 a.m. - 3 a.m. | Sat 4 p.m. - 2 a.m. New Orleans style atmosphere in the heart of Tuscaloosa on the strip. Horny's offerings include a full liquor bar, beer, and a variety of classic American food. Horny's Bar and Grill offers a limited late night menu from 1:30 a.m. - 2:30 a.m.

Dave’s Dogs 1701 McFarland Blvd E | University Mall // 722.2800 Five Guys Burgers & Fries 1800 McFarland Blvd E | Midtown Village // 391.0575 www.fiveguys.com Glory Bound Gyro Company 2325 University Blvd // 349-0505 Glory Bound Gyro Company is a unique restaurant that focuses on great food and service in a funky, fun-filled atmosphere. Open Mon-Thu: 11am - 10pm | Fri - Sat: 11am-10pm | Sun: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Heritage House 700 Towncenter | Northport // 758.0042 Open Mon-Fri 7 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Hooligan’s 1915 University Blvd // 759.2424 From hamburgers to hummus. Open daily 10 a.m. - 11 p.m.

O’Charley’s 3799 McFarland Blvd // 556.5143 Open daily for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch www.ocharleys.com Panera Bread 1800 McFarland Blvd E | Midtown Village // 366.8780 www.panerabread.com

Logan's Roadhouse 1511 Skyland Blvd E // 349.3554

Piccadilly Cafeteria 1701 McFarland Blvd E | University Mall // 556.4960 www.piccadilly.com

Madear’s 1735 Culver Road // 343.7773 Mon–Fri 6 a.m. - 5 p.m. | 2nd & 3rd Sunday 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Quick Grill 1208 University Blvd | The Strip // 342.0022 www.bamaquickgrill.com

Mugshots Grill & Bar 511 Greensboro Ave | Downtown Tuscaloosa // 391.0572 Great burgers & sandwiches. Unique setting, full service bar, veggie entrees, kid friendly, and open late www.mugshotsgrillandbar.com

Ruby Tuesday (2 locations) 6421 Interstate Drive | Cottondale // 633.3939 Just off I-20/59 at exit 77. Near Hampton Inn and Microtel Inn 311 Merchants Walk | Northport // 345.4540 www.rubytuesdays.com

Newk’s Express Cafe 205 University Blvd. East // 758.2455 Fax: 758.2470 // www.newkscafe.com An express casual dining experience in a refreshing and stylish atmosphere. Serving fresh tossed salads, oven baked sandwiches, California style pizzas and homemade cakes from Newk’s open kitchen. Sun–Wed 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. | Thurs–Sat 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Ryan’s 4373 Courtney Dr // 366.1114 Near Marriott Courtyard and Fairfield Inn Sitar Indian Cuisine 500 15th St // 345-1419 Southern Ale House 1530 McFarland Blvd N Monday-Thursday 11a-9p, Friday-Saturday 11a-10p Sunday Brunch 11a-2p A warm and inviting restaurant just north of the river with both classic and contemporary interpretations of Southern Cuisine. We boast a large variety of local craft beers on tap and other options in bottle for our beer loving constituents. Wine and Signature cocktails

Dickey's BBQ (3 locations) 9770 Alabama 69; Midtown; and 13544 Hwy 43 North at Rose Blvd. in Northport. Texas Barbecue. | 344.6500 1800 McFarland Blvd, Midtown Village, Tuscaloosa. | 758-1133 13544 Hwy 43 North, Winn Dixie Shopping Center, Northport. | 330-1147 Dreamland (2 locations) 5535 15th Ave | Tuscaloosa // 758.8135 101 Bridge Ave | Northport // 343.6677 The legend. On game day, get there early if you want to make kickoff. Seating is limited. Hours: Mon–Sat 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. | Sun 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Hick’s BBQ 4400 Fayette Hwy // 339.3678 // Tues–Sat 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Moe's Original BBQ 2101 University Blvd.. // 752.3616 Mon–Sat 11am - 10pm | Bar service Mon-Sat 2am and Fri -3am | Kitchen closes at 10pm

Southland Restaurant 5388 Skyland Blvd E // 556.3070 Steaks, chops and home-cooked vegetables Mon–Fri 10:45 a.m. - 9 p.m. T-Town Café 500 14th Street, Tuscaloosa | 759-5559 |www.ttowncafe.co Mon - Fri: 5 a.m. - 9 p.m., Sat: 5 a.m. - 3 p.m. Sun: 10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Tee’s Ribs and Thangs 1702 10th Avenue // 366.9974 |11 a.m. - 10 p.m. daily

Tuscaloosa Burger & Seafood Company 1014 7th Ave. | Tuscaloosa // 764.1976 Over 160 craft beers. Tue. - Thu 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Fri - Sat 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sun 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Large selection of decadent desserts.

STEAKS

Logan’s Roadhouse 1511 Skyland Blvd | next to Sams // 349.3554 Steaks, ribs and spirits Longhorn Steakhouse 1800 McFarland Blvd E | Midtown Village // 345-8244 #412

Zoe’s Kitchen 312 Merchants Walk // 344.4450 A wonderful selection of Greek foods

New Orleans Steak and Seafood House 824 McFarland Boulevard |11:00 a.m. till 11:00 p.m. daily. 248-7666

SPORTS GRILL

Nick's In the Sticks 4018 Culver Rd | Tuscaloosa // 758.9316 A long-time Tuscaloosa tradition. Good steaks at a reasonable price Try a Nicodemus if you have a designated driver.

Baumhower's Wings of Tuscaloosa 500 Harper Lee Drive | catering-Pick-up Tuscaloosa // 556.5858 | Always fresh and always fun. Owned by former UA/ Miami Dolphins great Bob Baumhower. Kid Friendly Buffalo Phil’s 1149 University Blvd | The Strip // 758.3318 Sports grille with TVs galore. Diverse beer and wine selection, full bar Billy's Sports Grill Historic Downtown Northport // 879.2238 Good food, beverages and family friendly Monday through Wednesday from 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m.-10 p.m., and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. till 9 p.m. (Sunday Brunch 10:30am-3pm). Buffalo Wild Wings 2710 McFarland Blvd. East | Tuscaloosa // 523.0273 Sports grille with TVs galore. Diverse beer and wine selection, full bar Champs Sports Grille 320 Paul Bryant Drive | inside Four Points Sheraton Hotel // 752.3200 Breakfast and lunch buffets. Sunday brunch 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Hooter’s 5025 Oscar Baxter Dr | Next to Jameson Inn // 758.3035 Wings, clams, shrimp and of course the Hooters Girls www.hooters.com Innisfree Irish Pub 1925 University Blvd | Tuscaloosa // 345.1199 Moe's BBQ 101 15th Street | Downtown Tuscaloosa // 752.3616 Mon-Sat 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Bar open until 2 a.m., 3 a.m. on Fridays Mugshots Grill & Bar 511 Greensboro Ave // 391.0572 Great burgers. Full service bar. Open late. www.mugshotsgrillandbar.com Tuscaloosa Burger & Seafood Company 1014 7th Ave. | Tuscaloosa // 764.1976 Over 160 craft beers. Tue. - Thu 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Fri - Sat 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sun 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Large selection of decadent desserts Wilhagan’s 2209 4th St | Downtown Tuscaloosa // 366.0913 Wings U 1800 McFarland Blvd East Suite 218 | Pick-up Tuscaloosa // 561.3984 Features the first coal-fired pizza oven in Alabama. Owned by former UA/Miami Dolphins great Bob Baumhower. Completely open concept! www.wingsu.com WingZone 1241 McFarland Blvd E | Tuscaloosa // 342.2473

OCTOBER 8 + OCTOBER 22

Bama BBQ & Grill 3380 McFarland Blvd | Northport // 333.9816

Pottery Grill (2 locations) Highway 11 | Cottondale // 554.1815 3420 Alabama 69 | Northport // 333.5848 Menu: thepotterygrill.com Awesome barbecue. The Pottery Grill serves up everything from pork, chicken, ribs and sausage to burgers, hot dogs and salads. Take-out and catering available.

Tacogi 500 Greensboro Ave | Downtown Tuscaloosa // 342.3647

BARBEQUE

Archibald & Woodrow's BBQ 4215 Greensboro Ave | Tuscaloosa // 331.4858 Mon-Sat 10:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. | Sun lunch

Outback Steakhouse 5001 Oscar Baxter Dr // 759.9000

SEAFOOD

Chuck’s Fish 508 Greensboro Ave | Downtown Tuscaloosa // 248.9370 Monday - Thursday 5-10 p.m. and Friday - Saturday 5-11 p.m. Steak, seafood, & sushi specialities. Daily specials. New Orleans Steak and Seafood House 824 McFarland Boulevard |11:00 a.m. till 11:00 p.m. daily. 248-7666 Red Lobster 2620 McFarland Blvd. | Tuscaloosa // 205.553.8810 Sun-Thurs 11AM-10PM//Fri & Sat 11AM-11PM Reservations Accepted Take-Out Available Private Dining Area Available for Advanced Booking (Lunch Specials Available Mon-Fri 11AM-3PM) Tin Top Restaurant & Oyster Bar 4851 Rice Mine Rd NE #460 // 462.3399 McFarland Plaza Shopping Center & Temerson Square Tuscaloosa Burger & Seafood Company 1014 7th Ave. | Tuscaloosa // 764.1976 Tue. - Thu 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Fri - Sat 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sun 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Over 160 craft beers. Large selection of decadent desserts. The Levee Bar and Grill 1 Bridge Ave | Northport // 632.3136 Casual riverfront dining Open Mon-Thurs 11am-9:30pm, Fri&Sat 11am, Sun 11am-8pm. www. leveebarandgrill.com Wintzell's Oyster House 808 Skyland Blvd. at the intersection of Skyland and Alabama Highway 69. | 247-7772 | wintzellsoysterhouse.com/location/tuscaloosa/

CHINESE

Buffet City 1747 Skyland Blvd E // 553.3308 All you can eat buffet. Open 7 days a week. Chang’s Chinese Restaurant 1825 McFarland Blvd N // 391.9131 China Fun 2600 University Blvd | Alberta City // 553.2435 Chongwah Express 1425 McFarland Boulevard, Northport. 333-1088 Hot Wok Express 6751 Alabama 69, Tuscaloosa // 758.0148

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FOODS TO

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DELICATESSEN

Lee Palace 6521 Highway 69 S // 391.9990 Open daily 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Mr. Chen's Authentic Chinese Cooking & Oriental Market 514 14th St. | In the Oz Music shopping center // 343.6889 // Open Sun - Thu 11am - 9pm, Fri & Sat 11am - 9:30pm Pearl Garden 2719 Lurleen Wallace Blvd | Northport // 339.0880

Honeybaked Ham Company 421 15th St. E // 345.5508 www.honeybaked.com

Jason’s Deli 2300 McFarland Blvd // 752.6192 Fax: 752.6193 // www.jasonsdeli.com Located in the Meadowbrook Shopping Center.

Peking Chinese Restaurant 1816 McFarland | Northport // 333.0361 Open 7 days a week. Super lunch and dinner buffet. Hours: Sun–Thurs 11 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. | Fri & Sat 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Jimmy John’s (3 locations) 1400 University Blvd | The Strip // 366.3699 1875 McFarland Blvd N | Northport // 752.7714 815 Lurleen B. Wallace S | Tuscaloosa // 722.2268 Delivery 7 days a week. www.jimmyjohns.com

Swen Chinese Restaurant 1130 University Blvd | The Strip // 391.9887

Manna Grocery & Deli 2300 McFarland Blvd E | Tuscaloosa // 752.9955

Trey Yuen 4200 McFarland Blvd E // 752.0088

McAlister’s Deli (2 locations) 101 15th St | Tuscaloosa // 758.0039 3021 Tyler Dr | Northport // 330.7940 Sandwiches, salads and spuds www.mcalistersdeli.com

ASIAN CUISINE Ruan Thai

1407 University Blvd // 391.9973 | ruanthaituscaloosa.com Exotic Thai cuisine. Offers vegetarian options, outdoor dining, and a full bar. Sushi on Thursdays. Lunch: Mon–Sat 11 a.m. -2 p.m. | Dinner: Mon–Thurs 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. Fri & Sat 5 p.m. -10pm | Sun 11 a.m. -3 p.m. Surin of Thailand 1402 University Blvd // 752.7970 Authentic Thai restaurant and sushi bar. Open daily. Lunch: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Dinner: 5 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. www.surinofthailand.com

PIZZA AND SUBS

California Underground 13552 Highway 43, Northport | 339.8660 Firehouse Subs 1130 University Blvd | Tuscaloosa // 248.0680

COFFEE SHOP

Barnes & Noble 1800 McFarland Blvd E | Tuscaloosa 349.6366

Five Java Coffee, fresh juices, smoothies and treats from Mary's Cakes. Open Monday - Saturday at 7am; 9am on Sundays

Krispy Kreme Doughnut 1400 McFarland Blvd // 758.6913 www.krispykreme.com Starbucks (2 locations) 1800 McFarland Blvd E | Midtown Village // 343.2468 1901 13th Ave East | inside Super Target // 462.1064 starbucks.com

Lenny’s Sub Shop 220 15th St // 752.7450 Fax: 752.7481 // www.lennys.com Little Caesars Pizza 1414 10th Ave // 366.2220 | 1www.littlecaesars.com

DESSERTS

Celebrations Bakery, Inc. 1832 McFarland Blvd N | Northport // 339.3221 Fax: 349.1945

Little Italy 1130 University Blvd. // 345.4354 Mellow Mushroom 2230 University Blvd | Downtown Tuscaloosa // 758.0112

Cold Stone Creamery 1130 University Blvd. | Tuscaloosa //343.1670 Specializes in customized ice cream Hours: Mon–Thurs 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. | Fri & Sat 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. Sun 12 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Subs n' You 2427 University Blvd. | Tuscaloosa // 205.758.0088 Roly Poly Sandwiches 2300 4th Street | Tuscaloosa // 366.1222 The Pita Pit 1207 University Blvd | The Strip // 345.9606 Hours: Mon–Sat 10:30 a.m. - 3 a.m. | Sun 11:30 a.m. - midnight

Tut’s Place 1306 University Blvd | The Strip // 759.1004

Schlotsky’s Deli 405 15th St. E // 759.1975 schlotskys.com

Heritage House 700 Towncenter | Northport // 758.0042 Open Mon-Fri 7 a.m. – 8 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Pizza Palace Buffet 6521 Alabama 69 | 752.5444

Newk's 205 University Blvd E | Tuscaloosa // 758.2455

Which Wich University Blvd.// Downtown Tuscaloosa // Mon – Sat 10:30 – 9 // Sunday 11 – 7 // Fun atmosphere,fresh ingredients, great sandwiches. 764.1673

A Taste Of Chicago 1700 Greensboro Avenue 205-342-DOGS Mon. - Thurs. 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Fri. - Sat. 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. 17th Street and Greensboro Avenue. Authentic Chicago style foods. Italian Beef Sandwiches, Chicago Rib Tips, and Chicago Style Pizza.

Pizza 120 50115th St. East | 561.6853

Momma Goldberg’s Deli 409 23rd Ave // 345.5501 |www.mommagoldbergs.com

Dunkin' Donuts 2520 Stillman Blvd. |Tuscaloosa// 349.3400 McCorvey Dr. | Tuscaloosa // 348.4041 www.dunkindonuts.com Mary's Cakes & Pastries 412 22nd Avenue | behind Opus | Northport // 345.8610 www.maryscakesandpastries.com Mon–Fri 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. | Sat 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Smoothie King (2 locations) 415 15th Street | Tuscaloosa // 349.1721 Fax: 349.1945 1403 University Blvd | Tuscaloosa // 462.3664 Sweet CeCe's Frozen yogurt Treats 2217 University Blvd. | Downtown Tuscaloosa // 561.6458 A fun and friendly make your own creation, yogurt experience! TCBY (3 Locations) 2304 Mcfarland Blbd | Meadowbrook Shopping Center // 349.4661 // 2 Mcfarland Blvd | Northport | Essex Shopping Center // 758.6855 // 1130 Univ. Blvd. | The Strip // 345.0804 Yogurt In Love Patriot Center 7402 Highway 69 South Phone Number: 764.9173 Fax Number: 764.9228 Monday-Thursday 11 a.m. - 9 p.m., Friday & Saturday 11 a.m.-10 pm. Yogurt Lab 920 Paul W. Bryant Dr Ste 200 | Tuscaloosa // 347.9522 Yogurt Mountain 1800 McFarland Blvd E | Midtown Village // 342.1484 Mon–Thurs 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. | Fri & Sat 11 a.m. - midnight

WHILE UNDERGOING CANCER TREATMENT C

ancer has personally hit home this past month when one of my dearest friends mom was diagnosed with a very serious form of colon cancer. I was in contact with her right away discussing what she should be eating during her treatment because she had been told and read many different things. I started doing some research and there is a ton of information of foods to eat to prevent cancer, but not so much about what to eat when you are faced with it. Balanced nutrition is very important for cancer treatment and survivorship especially if one is doing chemotherapy and radiation that can be very taxing on the whole body. Many times the treatment causes the person to lose their appetite all together, but it is a crucial time that one is supplying their body with the best nutrients. According to the type of cancer one has and the side effects from the treatment will greatly influence the type of diet one should follow. However, there are some foods or as I like to call them- “super foods” that are proven through many studies and research to aid and protect the body during cancer treatments. GINGER Recent studies suggest that adding ginger to your diet may help reduce the nausea associated with some types of chemotherapy even more effectively than over the counter anti-nausea meds. You can find fresh ginger root in the store that can be cut up in salads and soups. Another option is taking a supplement of high-grade encapsulated ginger that you can find at a local health or natural food store. FLAX SEED Flaxseed oil contains omega-3’s, which have the good fat our body needs to function on a daily basis. Research suggests for those who are battling cancer, a diet including omega-3s can help protect the organs from the harsh affects of chemotherapy, reduce inflammation, and help

prevent muscle loss associated with treatment. Flaxseed has also been shown to reduce the damage of organs caused by radiation exposure by protecting the healthy tissues before and significantly reducing damage after exposure. LEAFY GREEN VEGETABLES Green vegetables along with avocados, beans, carrots, apricots, pumpkin, and egg yolk are all high sources of folic acid. This will help the bodies DNA to replicate properly and protect it during radiation. Green leafy vegetables contain a high source of sulforaphanes, which have strong cancer correcting benefits and have been shown to aid survival from colorectal cancer. A diet rich in greens will help keep your body in an alkaline state that has been shown to increase the immune system and can aid in stopping new metastases. When your body is in an acidic state, this causes inflammation that can lead to the spread of cancer. GARLIC Garlic contains active ingredients like selenium and tryptophan that attack cancer cells and can act to stop the spread of cancer by not allowing a blood supply source to form to tumors. Garlic also destroys microbes and yeasts that our body is susceptible to from taking common medication and antibiotics prescribed during cancer treatments. Again, cancer treatments are unique to each individual and the side effects associated differs as well. With that being said, a diet plan is usually prescribed by a doctor or dietician when going through chemotherapy and/or radiation. The foods mentioned above however have strong research to benefit the body while undergoing such treatment. If you or someone you know is battling cancer, make sure diet and proper nutrition is discussed throughout treatment.

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>>> M O V I E R E V I E W | V A N R O B E R T S

BLACK MASS // DREARY, SLUGGISH “O

ut of the Furnace” director Scott Cooper’s “Black Mass,” qualifies as a gritty, atmospheric, but middling mobster melodrama that chronicles the life and crimes of James “Whitey” Bulger, a notorious Boston gangster with an Irish upbringing who evaded authorities for 16 years before justice eventually caught and convicted him for 11 homicides. Adapted from a thoroughgoing non-fiction bestseller by “Boston Globe” reporters Dick Lehr and Gerard O’Neill, this unsavory, R-rated, crime chiller provides “Pirates of the Caribbean” star Johnny Depp with a chance to atone for far too many silly, superficial comedies. Academy Award-winner Jack Nicholson did an imaginary take on this real-life sociopath in Martin Scorsese’s memorable law and order epic “The Departed,” a mob movie ten times more suspenseful than “Black Mass.” Now, Depp stars as the infamous felon himself. Although he appears incredibly chilling as the bloodthirsty maniac who is currently serving two life sentences plus five years, nothing about Depp’s performance reveals any insights about this heinous individual. Indeed, thanks to prosthetics galore, Depp bears a striking resemblance to Bulger, but nothing beneath his grim, tight-lipped portrayal yields a clue about the murderer’s mindset. Reportedly, Bulger refused to talk to Depp about his life. Meantime, this is not the Depp that we have grown accustomed to in movies like the frivolous “Pirates” franchise, “The Lone Ranger,” “Tusk,” “Dark Shadows,” and “Mortdecai.” Instead, this is the Depp of “Public Enemies,” “Donnie Brasco,” and “Once Upon a Time in Mexico.” As Bulger, Depp strangles a defenseless young harlot with a rope, beats an adversary to death with his bare fists, and mows downs an unarmed, but treacherous henchman with a carbine. Don’t walk into “Black Mass” and imagine you’re going to see something that will make you giggle with glee. Unquestionably, “Black Mass” constitutes a long overdue return to form for the immensely talented Depp. Critics have hailed his performance as Oscar worthy. As unforgettable as Depp is, the man who steals the show and delivers the best performance is Depp’s co-star Joel Edgerton of “Warriors.” Cast as corrupt FBI Agent John Connolly, who conspired with the real-life Bulger to shield him from prosecution, Edgerton emerges as nothing short of sensational. While Depp relies on prosthetics to impersonate Bulger,

OCTOBER 8 + OCTOBER 22

Edgerton shuns elaborate make-up and turns the tainted FBI agent into a sympathetic flesh and blood character. He gets under Connolly’s skin and shows us what makes the man tick. A profane, violent, but episodic crime thriller, “Black Mass” covers familiar ground. Director Scott Cooper, who also

helmed “Crazy Heart,” neither pulls any punches in his casual depiction of mob violence nor does he startle us with any surprises. You’ve seen everything that Cooper stages here in other gangster movies. Essentially, “Black Mass” is an empire-building crime film, but Cooper doesn’t recount either how Bulger established his empire or solidified it with his intimidating reputation. Instead, he dwells on episodes that earlier movies like “The Departed,” “Goodfellas,” “The Town,” “Killing Me Softly,” “The Friends of Eddie Coyle,” and the two “Boondock Saints” thrillers have done before and done with greater panache. Basically, the action unfolds in five year increments, beginning in 1975 as a number of Bulger’s cronies cut deals with the Feds to save their necks. Freshman scenarist Mark Mallouk and “Edge of Tomorrow” scribe Jez Butterworth neglect to explore the psychology behind the treachery that prompted Bulger’s underlings to inform on him. Meantime, Cooper focuses almost entirely on the relationship between Bulger and Connolly. The subplot involving Whitey’s older brother Billy could have been left on the editing room floor. Incredibly, “Black Mass” omits some of the more compelling incidents in the page-turning

Lehr and O’Neill book. Specifically, the filmmakers have altered the events that brought Bulger and Connolly together as conspirators as well as some of the crimes. A convicted bank robber who did 9-years in Alcatraz, Bulger masqueraded as a Robin Hood-style gangster around South Boston, but his fellow goons weren’t fooled by his shenanigans. Ironically, loyalty among these thieves is the first casualty. As the film unfolds, Bulger henchman Kevin Weeks (Jesse Plemons of “Varsity Blues”), goes on the record swearing that he isn’t a “rat!” On the other hand, FBI Agent John Connolly worshiped the ground that Bulger trod and refused to testify against him. Connolly grew up in the same blue-collar Irish neighborhood as Bulger. Whitey intervened in a fight where Connolly would have suffered grievously without his support. Connolly struggles to convince his wife Marianne (Julianne Nicholson of “Kinsey”) that loyalty supersedes morality. Nevertheless, her husband’s adulation for Bulger repels her. Connolly sets out to recruit Bulger as a source, but Bulger balks at being an informant. Inevitably, Connolly forges an unholy alliance with Bulger, so the Bureau can crush the Mafia in Boston and he could claim credit for the demise of the Italians. Ultimately, Connolly sold his soul to the devil, while Cooper makes Bulger appear as sinister as Satan. Distinguished by its brooding cinematography, authentic production values, and documentary flavor, “Black Mass” succeeds more as a tour de force showcase for the actors than a landmark example of a gangster movie. A top-tier supporting cast, featuring “Sherlock” star Benedict Cumberbatch as Bulger’s brother Billy, who carved out a reputation for himself in Congress as a man of the people, surround Depp and Edgerton. Kevin Bacon, David Harbour, and Adam Scott play Connolly’s eloquent, well-tailored,

★★

OU T OF 4

FBI colleagues. Harbour delivers a powerful performance as the weak link in the group of FBI agents who turn a blind eye to Bulger’s criminal activities as long as he furnishes them with information about the Mafia. As Bulger’s amoral associates, Rory Cochrane, Jesse Plemons, and W. Earl Brown will make your skin crawl. Peter Sarsgaard rounds out the cast as one of Bulger’s sadistic but illfated adversaries. Nobody gives a weak performance in “Black Mass.” Sadly, for all of his crime-does-not-pay sentiments, Cooper has fashioned a dreary, sluggish crime saga devoid of any cinematic flair or unpredictable spontaneity.

>>> PLANETWEEKLY • TUSCALOOSA'S SOURCE FOR ENTERTAINMENT, MUSIC, SPORTS & THE ARTS

>>> PET PLANET | K E L S E Y C A M E R O N

STAR // YOUR GIRL! According to Disney, “when you wish upon a star, your dreams come true.” Star could be your dream come true! Star is a long haired tortoiseshell (torti). She is absolutely breathtaking and hard to photograph because she loves to follow you around and be petted. What a sweetheart! You really must see her in person to fully understand her beauty. She is a senior cat at about 13 years old. Don’t let her age fool you! Star still has a lot of love left to give. She also loves to be brushed. Since she is new, the other cats are not being very nice to her, but it does not phase her at all. She would be fine in a home with other cats but would also be fine as the only cat in the household. She would not mind having you all to herself! Star is negative for FIV and FeLK, current on vaccinations, and spayed. This senior love bug deserves a wonderful forever home, will it be yours?

DIXIE // A TRUE SOUTHERN BELLE

VOLUNTEER The Humane Society of West Alabama is in need of volunteers for both the cat and dog facilities. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer please contact our volunteer coordinator at volunteerhswa@gmail.com or go ahead and download a volunteer application from www.humanesocietyofwa.org/formsinfo.html and send to the same email.

This pretty Southern Belle needs a THIRD chance at finding the perfect family! Don’t keep her waiting any longer! Miss Dixie is a 3- to 4-year-old female Labrador Retriever. She is a big dog, weighing 54 pounds, and she has a yellow coat. We don’t know what has happened to her tail! It was either cut off due to an injury or possibly from abuse, but she still knows how to wag it! Dixie was pulled from our local animal shelter, where she had been originally taken as a stray back in September 2014. She was adopted out in December, but her adopters returned her in April because they could not handle her energy and her size. She had been BACK down at the Shelter for almost 3 months so we knew we just had to get her out of there. Dixie is a very friendly dog. She is high-energy and gets very excited. She would be a great dog to take on hikes, run with or go walking. Dixie will require a fenced in yard so she can run and play to get that energy out of her. She is a Lab, and this energy is very typical of young labs. Just remember that a tired dog is a good dog! Dixie will make a great family dog but would do better with older children just due to her large size, which makes it easy for her to bump into and knock over small children. She is good with other dogs but tends to be the dominant dog, so a trial would be advised to make sure they dogs do get along okay. We have started her crate training. Dixie is up to date on her vet care, heartworm negative, spayed and is microchipped. She is on heartworm and flea/tick prevention. Labs are such wonderful dogs that are loyal to their owner for their entire life – how can you go wrong with that type of devotion?!? If you are interested in giving STAR or DIXIE the forever home they want and deserve, visit the Humane Society of West Alabama at http://www.humanesocietyofwa.org or call us at (205)-554-0011.

>>> VISIT US ON THE WEB @ THEPLANETWEEKLY.COM

OCTOBER 8 + OCTOBER 22

>>> EVENTS CALENDAR | T H E S O U T H E A S T ' S L A R G E S T NOTE: All events listed here have phone numbers in the 205 area code unless otherwise indicated.

THURSDAY-SATURDAY, Oct 8-10

Moundville Native American Festival WHEN: 9:00am-5:00pm COST: 5 and under:free, Seniors:$10, Students:$10 Adults:$12 WHERE: 1 Mound Parkway Moundville PHONE: (205) 371-2234 LINK: http://visittuscaloosa.com/calendar-ofevents-old DESCRIPTION: Each year, descendants of this vibrant culture return, celebrating the South’s rich Indian heritage at the Moundville Native American Festival. Repeatedly named one of Alabama’s Top 20 Tourism Events, the Moundville Native American Festival is always slated for Wednesday through Saturday during the first week of October.

FRIDAY, Oct 9

Robert Earl Keen WHEN: 8:30pm-11:59pm COST: $25 WHERE: 1307 University Blvd Tuscaloosa PHONE: (205) 999-9999 LINK: http://druidcitymusichall.com/ events?page=1 DESCRIPTION: Robert Earl Keen is an American singer-songwriter and entertainer living in the central Texas hill country. Alabama WHEN: 8:00pm- 11:59pm COST: balcony:$21-$49.50 Orchestra: $59.50-$75 pit: $75 WHERE: 2710 Jack Warner Parkway Tuscaloosa PHONE: (205) 248-5280 LINK: http://www.tuscaloosaamphitheater. com/ DESCRIPTION: Alabama is an American country, southern rock and bluegrass band formed in Fort Payne, Alabama in 1969.

TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY, Oct 13-14

“Nuncrackers: The Nunsense Christmas Musical” performance at Theatre Tuscaloosa WHEN: 6:00pm-11:59pm COST: Free WHERE: 9500 Old Greenboro Road #135 Tuscaloosa PHONE: (205) 361-2277 LINK: http://visittuscaloosa.com/calendar-ofevents-old DESCRIPTION: As a follow up to Nunsense, your favorite sisters are taping their first TV Special in the convent basement studio for cable access. Joining in the fun this time is Father Virgil and some of Mt. Saint Helen’s most talented students!

WEDNESDAY, Oct 14

25 WAYS TO WEAR A SCARF WHEN: 5:00pm-8:00pm COST: Free. WHERE: 240 Paul Bryant Drive Tuscaloosa PHONE: (205) 348-6482 LINK: http://www.bcc.ua.edu/ DESCRIPTION: Wondering what to do with all those scarves in your closet? Give your Fall wardrobe a kick by learning some clever ways to tie scarves. Bring a long scarf, a small hand mirror and enjoy this hands-on demonstration. You’ll have fun while learning to “tie one on!” Debbie Bond and “Radiator” Rick WHEN: 7:30pm-10:30pm COST: Free WHERE: 730 22nd Avenue Tuscaloosa PHONE: No Contact LINK: http://www.alcovetavern.com/ DESCRIPTION: A blues-based sound spiced with soul, swamp, jazz and country. The heart of the band is Debbie Bond and

her husband, “Radiator” Rick Asherson. The lineup stretches from the two of us doing a singer/songwriter type presentation to a full band, with drums, bass, sax and background singers.

THURSDAY, Oct 15

Jason Isbell WHEN: 7:00pm-11:59pm COST: balcony:$21-$28.50 Orchestra: $38.50-$65.50 pit: $65.50 WHERE: 2710 Jack Warner Parkway Tuscaloosa PHONE: (334) 248-5280 LINK: http://www.tuscaloosaamphitheater. com/ DESCRIPTION: Jason Isbell is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist from Green Hill, Alabama. He is best known for his solo career and as a former member of the DriveBy Truckers for six years. He will be performing with very special guests Sturgill Simpson and Brandy Clark

FRIDAY, Oct 16

Wizard of Oz WHEN: 7:00pm- 9;00pm COST: $10-$20 WHERE: 600 Greensboro Ave Tuscaloosa PHONE: (205) 310-8010 LINK: http://visittuscaloosa.com/calendar-ofevents-old DESCRIPTION: Tuscaloosa Children’s Theatre presents its fall production of “The Wizard of Oz”. Performance dates are October 16th through October 18th at the historic Bama Theatre. Ticket prices are $20 for premium seats, $15 for adults and $10 for students and can be purchased at the box office one hour prior to each show or online at tctonline.info.

SATURDAY, Oct 17

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk WHEN: 9:00am-11:59pm COST: Free WHERE: 2101 6th Street Tuscaloosa PHONE: (205) 918-3220 LINK: makingstrideswalk.org/tuscaloosaal DESCRIPTION: The 5th annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk will be held on October 17, 2015. Join us for a non-competitive 5k fundraising walk benefiting the American Cancer Society. Register your team today!

SUNDAY, Oct 18

Tesla String Quartet Concert WHEN: 3:30pm-5:30pm COST: $25 WHERE: 810 2nd Ave Tuscaloosa LINK: http://www.stringquartetsocietyoftuscaloosa.org/ DESCRIPTION: The Tesla String Quartet has established itself as one of the most promising young ensembles in the U.S. Since then they have won many national and international prizes. This concert is presented by the String Quartet Society of Tuscaloosa.

MONDAY, Oct 19

Cinema Paradiso WHEN: 7:30pm-11:59pm COST: $5 WHERE: 600 Greensboro Ave TuscaloosaPHONE: (205) 758-5195 LINK: http://bamatheatre.org/ DESCRIPTION: The “$5 Foreign Films from 5” series will screen at the Bama Theatre Oct. 19-Dec. 17, 2015 and will feature five films. Screenings will take place at the Bama Theatre on select dates at 7:30 p.m. with the box office opening at 6:30 p.m. and doors at 6:45 p.m.

THEATRE TUSCALOOSA KICKS OFF NEW SEASON

heatre Tuscaloosa will present To Kill a Mockingbird October 23-November 1 in the Bean-Brown Theatre on the Martin Campus of Shelton State Community College. “In light of Harper Lee’s book, Go Set a Watchman being released this summer, I couldn’t think of a more perfect time to revisit To Kill a Mockingbird,” says Tina Turley, Executive Producer of Theatre Tuscaloosa. “This show makes me feel like a kid again. Every time I read the book, watch the move, or see the play I feel a renewal of the human spirit. We think it will inspire our audiences.” Based on the novel by Harper Lee, scriptwriter Christopher Sergel adapted Lee’s familiar tale of Scout, Jem, Atticus, and Boo Radley. When Atticus Finch agrees to defend an African-American man in the Jim Crowe South, it has profound effects upon his children and community. Theatre Tuscaloosa Artistic Emeritus, Paul Looney, is directing To Kill a Mockingbird. Looney has directed more than a hundred shows at Theatre Tuscaloosa. The production team includes Kiera Gil-

OCTOBER 8 + OCTOBER 22

lock, stage manager; scenery, lighting, and sound designer, Wheeler Kincaid; Tylor Little, props master; and Jeanette Waterman, costume designer. “We are thrilled that more half the cast members are newcomers. They will bring energy and excitement to the table,” says Turley. Not only does the cast include many Theatre Tuscaloosa newcomers, it also includes cast members related through four separate families: the Bontizes, Hil-

tons, Sheltons, and Wards. The Bonitz sisters, Faith and Hope, are excited about working together on another production. “We’ve never done a show apart,” says Hope. Faith loves being on stage with her sister. “She understands me in the way an actor needs to understand her character, and we enhance each other’s performance,” says Faith. Clemmie Hilton will share the stage once again with her three children Diva, Israel, and Candace. “We have been in two shows together and To Kill a Mockingbird will make three,” says Hilton. “It is quite energizing to share the stage with them. I feel as though I am creating a path for them that says ‘never ever give up on your dreams’ and that whatever you desire is worth the wait, struggle, pain, and price to make it happen.” Theatre Tuscaloosa’s 2015-16 Season: Making Fun! is presented in cooperation with Shelton State Community College and is made possible with support from Alabama State Council on the Arts and WVUA23. To Kill a Mockingbird is sponsored by Mercedes-Benz U.S

International, Inc., Townsquare Media, Warrior Roofing Manufacturing, Ameriprise Financial, and Bank of Tuscaloosa. To Kill a Mockingbird will run October 23-November 1, 2015 in the Bean-Brown Theatre on the Martin Campus of Shelton State Community College. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturday, October 25. Matinee performances will be at 2:00 p.m. on Sundays, Wednesday, and Saturday, October 31. A pay-what-you-can dress rehearsal will be presented on Thursday, October 22, at 7:30 p.m., all proceeds of which will benefit the Charlie Dennis Memorial Scholarship Fund. A special event with one of Alabama’s top authors and historians, Dr. Wayne Flynt, will be presented on Thursday, October 29, at 6:00 p.m. in the Shelton State Atrium. Flynt is one of the foremost experts on To Kill a Mockingbird and Harper Lee. The presentation is free and open to the public, but seating is limited and available on a first-come, firstserved basis. Tickets and information are available at www.theatretusc.com or 205.391.2277.

>>> PLANETWEEKLY • TUSCALOOSA'S SOURCE FOR ENTERTAINMENT, MUSIC, SPORTS & THE ARTS

WORK BY KEVIN LEDGEWOOD TO BE FEATURED

he Arts Council of Tuscaloosa will host an exhibit of work by Kevin Ledgewood at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center from Nov. 6-27, 2015. “Wings” will feature insects and other small life forms depicted in ink, watercolor and photography. The exhibit will open with a reception on Nov. 6 from 5-8 p.m. during First Friday. Kevin Ledgewood has resided in Tuscaloosa/Northport since 1995 and has served as Publicist for the Arts Council of Tuscaloosa since 1999. A native of Corinth, Mississippi, he received the Bachelor of Music Education degree from The University of Southern Mississippi in 1989, and in 1991, the Master of Music in Woodwind Performance and Pedagogy from the same institution. He was an educator in the public schools of Tennessee and Mississippi from 1992 through 1995, and during the 1998-1999 academic year, served as adjunct professor of clarinet at The University of Mississippi. He received the Doctor of Musical Arts in Clarinet Performance from The University of Alabama in 2002.

Artist Statement Alongside music, visual art has been a major part of my life since childhood. Drawing was never anything I had to think about doing with a purpose in mind. It was simply a way for me to express my interests and observations, sometimes to others, but mainly myself. Drawing everything from the heroes of DC comics to the solar system, I managed to travel to these worlds with pencil and paper. Alongside the arts, living things, especially plants and tiny animals, were always a source of curiosity and continue to be as an adult. Insects, the primary focus of this exhibit, have always been of interest to me with their symmetry, complexity and ability to carry on their solitary or societal lives without any influence from humans, all on a tiny scale. Their intricate shapes, patterns and colors, all with some purpose in daily survival, also seem to exist for the pleasure of human eyes. Black lines and dots, when combined with varying white space, can capture the hills, valleys and sharp peaks of an insect’s body and display this intricate landscape with surprising clarity. Watercolor, with its ability to appear flowing and transparent even when dry, enabled me to express my love of the unanswered questions that remain in our natural world and allow the viewer to “fill in the blanks” with their own answers. The Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center is located at 620 Greensboro Avenue in Downtown Tuscaloosa. Gallery hours are 9 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. on weekdays and noon-8 p.m. on First Fridays. For more information about the CAC, The Arts Council or Bama Theatre, patrons should LIKE the Facebook page “The Arts Council – Bama Theatre – Cultural Arts Center” and follow tuscarts on Twitter. Call 205-758-5195 or visit tuscarts.org for further information.

The Tuscaloosa Public Library presents New York Times bestselling author of

Orphan Train,

Christina Baker Kline a Ms. Kline will be discussing her books, telling stories, and taking questions.

Thursday, October 15, 2015 6-8 p.m. Tuscaloosa Public Library – Main 1801 Jack Warner Parkway

Books, provided by Barnes & Noble, will be available to purchase for signing.

This event is free to the public.

Ms. Kline’s visit is sponsored by the Kate Webb Ragsdale Author Series Fund.

Call 205-345-5820 ext. 1110 for more information.

>>> PLANETWEEKLY • TUSCALOOSA'S SOURCE FOR ENTERTAINMENT, MUSIC, SPORTS & THE ARTS

OCTOBER 8 + OCTOBER 22

>>> ROAD TRIP | S O U T H E A S T E R N CO N C E R T S A N D E V E N T S

BIRMINGHAM

NASHVILLE

SUNDAY, OCT 11

FRIDAY, OCT. 9

Danzig // Iron City

Kid Rock // Carl Black Chevy Woods Amphitheater

MONDAY, OCT 12

SATURDAY, OCT 10

Mushroomhead // Zydeco

Grace Potter // Ascend Amphitheater

TUESDAY, OCT 13

SUNDAY, OCT 11

Seether // Iron City

WEDNESDAY, OCT 14

Jackson Browne // The Alabama Theatre Rusted Root // Iron City

SATURDAY, OCT 17

Manchester Orchestra // Ryman Auditoruim Jackson Browne // Ascend Amphitheater

WEDNESDAY, OCT 14

Patty Griffin // Ryman Auditoruim

Bo Burnham // The Alabama Theatre Born Leaders // Legacy Areana at the BJCC

SATURDAY, OCT 17

Stray From The Path // Rocketown

SUNDAY, OCT 18

MONDAY, OCT 12

THURSDAY, OCT 22

WEDNESDAY, OCT 14

FRIDAY, OCT. 30

THURSDAY, OCT 15

Walk The Moon // Iron City Vintage Trouble // Saturn

Nothing More // Mercy Lounge/Cannery Ballroom

Disney On Ice // Legacy Arena at the BJCC

Modest Mouse // Nashville War Memorial Auditorium

Magic City Music Fest // Legacy Arena at the BJCC

SATURDAY, OCT 31

All Time Low with Sleether // Marathon Music Works Mac Miller

SUNDAY, OCT 18

Bone thugs N Harmony // Avondale Brewing Company

Don Henley // Ryman Auditorium

Florida Georgia Line // OCT 17

ATLANTA SATURDAY, OCT 10

Warren Haynes // Tabernacle All Time Low and Sleeping With Sirens // Verizon wireless Amphitheatre

SUNDAY, OCT 11

Mint Condition // Tabernacle

WEDNESDAY, OCT 14

Korn with Suicide Silence and Islander // Tabernacle

THURSDAY, OCT 15

Aaron Neville // Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre

Aaron Neville // OCT 15

SATURDAY, OCT 17

Don Henley // Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre Chris Tomlin // Infinite Energy Center Florida Georgia Line with Thomas Rhett // Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood

SUNDAY, OCT 18

Parklife Music Festival with Jason Isbell // Piedmont Park

Kid Rock // OCT 9

Effective

ADS CONTACT

205.523.8007

OCTOBER 8 + OCTOBER 22

HAVE YOUR VENUE AND EVENTS LISTED HERE FREE. PLEASE EMAIL PLANETEDITOR@YAHOO.COM

MONDAY, OCT 19

Elvis Costello // Variety Playhouse

>>> R OA D T R I P D I R E C T O RY Travel the South's best venues. Visit their website for ticket info and more. Acoustic Café 2758 County Hwy 9 205.647.3237

Fox Theatre 660 Peachtree St NE 404.881.2100

Montgomery Performing Arts Center 201 Tallapoosa St 334.481.5100

Von Braun Center 700 Monroe St SW 256.551.2345

Amphitheater at the Wharf 23101 Canal Rd 251.224.1020

The Hangout 251.948.3030 thehangout1.com

The Nick 2514 10th Ave S 205.252.3831

WorkPlay 500 23rd St S 205.380.4082

Bridgestone Arena 501 Broadway 615.770.2000

Marathon Music Works 1402 Clinton St 615.891.1781

Sloss Furnaces 20 32nd St N 205.324.1911

Zydeco 2001 15th Ave S 205.933.1032

Centennial Olympic Park 265 Park Ave W NW 404.223.4412

Minglewood Hall 1555 Madison Ave 901.312.6058

Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre 2200 Encore Pkwy 404.733.5010

>>> VISIT US ON THE WEB @ THEPLANETWEEKLY.COM

>>> WEEKLY HANGOUTS | A L E J A N D R A T E N O R I O

HANGING OUT // THE BLACKWATER THIEVES W

ith over seven passion driven years dedicated to The Blackwater Thieves, band members Chris Pritchett, Keith Dunlap, and Harrison Wallace have no plans to stop any time soon. A band with a very particular, unique sound that can only be described under the mixture of jazz, funk, and psychedelic music, The Blackwater Thieves have become known for their originality. Though they often cover songs by greats such as The Grateful Dead and Phish, they always add their special “Thieves” sound to everything they do. In a personal interview held at the band’s “godfather” Chris Pritchett’s house, the guys were able to discuss more in depth about what drives and inspires them to continue doing what they love. Being around other bands and listening to music all day long was the triggering factor that set Chris off into the path he is on today. “Being able to connect with your instrument and being around other musicians who inspire you to continue is the most important part.” From the early age of eight, Chris carried around his boom box and listened to whatever his older sister was listening to at the time. After years of listening to Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys

>>> L O C A L B A R S

and then slowly transitioning into Screamo and Hard Rock, his father suggested he should listen to The Beatles-a band that would spark his interest and influence the music taste he has today. Both Keith and Harrison were also influenced by bands and styles of music that sparked their interest into the realm of the music scene. Keith’s dad played him his first Led Zeppelin song and he was hooked from then on. After listening to Led Zeppelin’s lead drummer, John Bonham’s solos, he found an instant connection to the instrument and how it made him feel. Now a senior in college, Keith still jams out on the drum set he got from his parents in the ninth grade. Coming from a musical family, Harrison always knew music was a passion of his; music, for Harrison, is a way to find “relaxation and ease.” As a graduate student in American Studies and soon to be professor for an American Folk Music class at The University of Alabama, the excitement

Photographed Above (left to right) : Keith Dunlap, Chris Pritchett, and Harrison Wallace (not pictured: Brad Bates) that pours through his words when speaking about music is undeniable. The fire in his tone of voice when referring to his rare and distinctive findings of various different instruments around town could be heard from miles away. Not only is it passion and love for music that makes The Thieves successful, it is also their ability to stay humble and appreciative of their surroundings and local musicians alike. All three of the band members gushed on about all the different concerts and open mic jam nights that were happening around town. “We like to go out and see as many shows as we can,” Lead Vocalist and Guitar player, Chris said, “always making sure we are being supportive of our friends and their music.” Both locally and nationally known across the states of Tennessee and Georgia, The Blackwater Thieves are just getting started on their road to success. After numer-

ous changes to who was going to play keyboards in the band, the guys finally came across Brad Bates. With both his similar personality and musical likings similar to the band, the guys knew from the start that they had found their “missing link.” Although The Blackwater Thieves endured many challenges along the way, these guys didn’t let any small change get in their way of doing what they love--performing and connecting to their audience. They all simultaneously agreed that the biggest inspiration of all is when they can feel the audience’s connection to what they are singing. With upcoming shows in Nashville, Tennessee and Florence, Alabama, this charismatic, welcoming, and talented band is not one to be underestimated. Though the guys don’t know exactly where they will be in ten years, location wise, they do know one thing for certain-their love for music will never die and if they can help it, The Thieves will continue on for years to come. You can check out The Blackwater Thieves playing live at Moe’s on October 1st and at The Green Bar on October 10th.

Big Al's // 759-9180

Crimson Bar // 764-0185

Innisfree // 345-1199

The Booth // 764-0557

Downtown Pub // 750-0008

Jackie's Lounge // 758-9179

Buffalo Wild Wings // 523-0273

Gallettes // 758-2010

The Legacy // 345-4848

4th & 23rd //

Capones // 248-0255

Gnemis Top Shelf Tavern // 343-0020

Mellow Mushroom // 758-0112

1831 // 331-4632

Carpe Vino // 366-8444

Gray Lady // 469-9521

Mugshots // 391-0572

Alcove // 469-9110

Catch 22 // 344-9347

Harry's Bar // 331-4151

Rhythm & Brews // 750-2992

Bear Trap // 345-2766

Copper Top // 343-6867

Houndstooth // 752-8444

Rounders // 345-4848

>>> PLANETWEEKLY • TUSCALOOSA'S SOURCE FOR ENTERTAINMENT, MUSIC, SPORTS & THE ARTS

OCTOBER 8 + OCTOBER 22

>>> PUZZLEMANIA | C R O S S W O R D P U Z Z L E

Across 1. 41st president, initially 5. "Hey ____" (Beatles tune) 9. Clinic supply 14. Lascivious look 15. Power tool company since 1924 16. Inclined channel 17. Like a good towel 19. Folderol 20. Copycat's phrase 21. Use a poker 23. Elec. power unit 25. Loser's demand 30. Post between wires 33. Dictionary abbr. 35. Not tied down 36. Underground conduit 37. Brant Parker and Johnny Hart strip "The Wizard ____" 39. Gush forth 42. Bananas 43. Provide party provisions 45. Ancient European region 47. With extra emphasis, on a music score (abbr.) 48. Nuclear device 52. Actor Del Toro 53. Marsupial pocket 54. Dyson rival 57. Keep from flowing 61. 2002 movie "The Man Without ___" 65. Measures on treasure maps 67. Send in a payment 68. Runnin' Rebels' sch. 69. Opening of a Mozart opera 70. "Pocketful of Miracles" director Frank 71. Camera attachment 72. Major rtes. 1. Doll (up) 2. Goddess of youth and spring 3. "Wild, Wild ____" (Escape Club song) 4. Shields on stage

OCTOBER 8 + OCTOBER 22

5. Famous composer's monogram 6. Luau strings 7. By ____ of (due to) 8. Matador charger 9. Plots 10. Grinch victim 11. Bering Sea bird 12. Air conditioner capacity (abbr.) 13. Half of a sch. year 18. Muppet pup 22. Range of knowledge 24. Sage, e.g. 26. Did an imitation of 27. Coming near 28. Musical staff sign 29. Car-rental company 30. Poseidon's son 31. Use the loo 32. Hägar's comics wife 33. English homework list, for short 34. "... ___ worse than death" 38. Actress Moore 40. Elevator compartment 41. Confused utterances 44. Cheese used in lasagna 46. Principal movie roles 49. Abbr. on a street sign 50. Pathetic 51. Mr. Right? 55. Ice cream ____ 56. Cologne, in Cologne 58. Catcall? 59. "____-daisy!" 60. Greek letters 61. Circumference part 62. Sweet ____ (flower) 63. Bass hook-up 64. "____ Gawain and the Green Knight" 66. Babysitters watch them

SOLUTION FOR PUZZLEMANIA CROSSWORD ON PAGE 21

>>> PUZZLEMANIA| S U D O K U

It's easy to play Sudoku! Simply fill every column, row and 3x3 box so they contain every number between 1 and 9. The game is easy to play but difficult to master! Solution Page 21

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>>> HOROSCOPES | W E E K L Y O V E R V I E W You could be pushed into making a decision early on, but avoid doing so unless you're absolutely sure it's right. Research your options and bide your time for a few more days. Venus dancing into Virgo adds extra sparkle to your romance zone, bringing more opportunities to find that special person or enjoy creative pastimes. Issues associated with lifestyle and health also clear up as Mercury pushes ahead on Friday. An unexpected offer might be too good to pass up! The week begins on an intense note that could affect a budding romance or your performance in a creative or entrepreneurial project. You may feel pressured, but try to avoid making decisions until you're sure you're on the right track. You'll soon notice a difference once Mercury forges ahead on Friday. There may be a chance of a small windfall over the weekend that would make you smile. If you've been dabbling in real estate, a lucrative deal may be struck. You may feel a greater responsibility to get ahead now that Saturn is moving through your work and lifestyle sector. This means you'll likely be putting more pressure on yourself. Don't forget to schedule in plenty of leisure time and the chance to relax to avoid burnout. Also avoid signing anything of importance on or around Tuesday, because things may not be what they seem. Later, a fabulous Jupiter alignment could coincide with an offer that's everything you've wanted and more!

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Go easy with your finances, especially in the early part of the week. And take extra care of your credit cards and personal data. If you need to make a major purchase, keep receipts and any associated paperwork, as there's the potential for a mishap. At the same time, Jupiter's presence in your financial sector boosts opportunities to expand your income and enhance business success. There's an especially powerful alignment over the weekend, which could bring exciting deals or offers your way. It can be easy to get in a muddle this week, as there is the potential for mixed messages and general misunderstandings. But there's also a lot that's exciting and upbeat happening for you in the days ahead. Venus dances back into Virgo on Thursday, making you an attractive option. Money matters will be less subject to delays and frustration once Mercury turns direct on Friday. You can go ahead and purchase those big-ticket items. Finally, you may benefit romantically and financially over the weekend. You may feel put upon by family members and pressured into taking a course of action that irks you. A touch of diplomacy can help swing things your way. Later, you'll find that delays begin to melt away fairly rapidly as Mercury pushes forward, leaving you able to get on with plans and projects that have been on the back burner. If you get an intuitive hunch to go somewhere or connect with someone over the weekend, follow it up. It could be worthwhile. It's that time of year when you need to take time out to relax and enjoy life a little. Take stock of all you've achieved and look ahead to your goals and plans for the next twelve months. Be sure to leave plenty of opportunity for socializing and leisure, as there's a powerful lineup that encourages you to meet with others, network, and become part of your community. If an exceptional invitation or offer comes your way this weekend, you might benefit greatly by accepting. The desire to succeed could take on a whole new meaning this week as Mars moves deeper into your career sector. There's also an exciting aspect involving Jupiter, which could see you latch on to a brilliant idea and eager to take it further. This might involve a business plan or an insight into your career or industry that could see you doing very well further down the line. Avoid making any impulsive moves, however. It's best to take baby steps right now. Avoid making important decisions early in the week, as you may lack critical information. Research your options and you'll make a wise choice. Romance may show up when you're on a trip or in an academic setting. Even so, it could take some time to develop into a close, intimate relationship. The weekend brings some exciting times as you have a chance to put a plan to the test. You may be catapulted to a new level of success as a result. Go easy with money matters early on, as there's a potential for mistakes. If you're thinking of purchasing a big-ticket item, hold back for a few days and look into your reasons for wanting it in the first place. You might be able to save some cash. Travel plans look promising, too, especially once Mercury turns direct. The chance of a relaxing break could do you a world of good. Later, an intuitive idea could help enhance your income and take it to a new level.

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Others may be only too willing to offer practical advice this week, especially if they think you're heading in the wrong direction. They may be right, but they might not understand exactly what you have in mind. Avoid making decisive moves until later in the week. Finances look set to improve as Mercury pushes ahead on Friday. Now you can go ahead and purchase big-ticket items or close lucrative deals. The weekend could bring a rather unforgettable encounter. There's a major focus on work and you'll be eager to play an active part. While Mars in Virgo encourages you to put your best foot forward, it might not be so easy when Neptune's influence comes into play, especially early in the week. Clarity will begin to dawn once Mercury turns direct on Friday. Sunday brings a fabulous opportunity to make a bold move. It also offers a chance to take your business or a key ambition to the next level.

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OCTOBER 8 + OCTOBER 22

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ACOUSTIC NIGHT WILL FEATURE THE SWEEPLINGS

he Sweeplings will be featured on Acoustic Night on Oct. 23, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. Presented by The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa, the project features both solo and ensemble performances of a wide range of acoustic music throughout the calendar year in the intimate setting of the Bama Theatre’s Greensboro Room. Doors open at 7 p.m. Cover charge for this performance is $10 with a full service bar available. The Sweeplings make music that settles comfortably into the canon of classic American acoustic music, but their origin story couldn’t be more modern. Whitney Dean and Cami Bradley have been writing together for just over a year, but the timelessness of their music belies the youth of their collaboration. Haunting yet hopeful, together Dean and Bradley create luring melodies and lyrics that touch on the universal and the fleeting; those shared experiences that while they’re happening might seem trivial, but go on to become waypoints in the memory of a life well lived. It might be the sudden realization that, when it comes to love, forever isn’t all that long. We’re are all on the same ride to the undeniable end, yet with someone by our side, we just might be able to go gently into that good night. Sonically, they approach each song as if writing for the screen. A swirl of melodies and harmonies bring you along on their journey, and the sounds they craft at once giving rise to a myriad of mental imagery. “We hope that listening to our record is, in a way, akin to watching a great film. We want to provide our listeners with an experience that is felt, not just heard,” says Bradley. “We really just wanted to share, through our music, the rise and fall of our lives, the journey of who we are and who we are becoming. We hope our listeners can relate and in that relating find some solace and a little bit of strength.” For more information visit http://www.thesweeplings.com. The Bama Theatre is located at 600 Greensboro Avenue in Downtown Tuscaloosa. For more information about The Arts Council or Bama Theatre, patrons should LIKE the Facebook page “The Arts Council – Bama Theatre – Cultural Arts Center” and follow tuscarts on Twitter. Call 205-758-5195 or visit bamatheatre.org for further information.

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>>> H I G H T I D E S P O R T S | GARY HARRIS

PHOTOS COURTESY OF UA ATHLETICS

BAMA RECRUITING UPDATE D

uring the Ole Miss game in Tuscaloosa, Alabama hosted some of its top defensive line prospects for the 2016 class, including Jeffery Simmons of Macon-Noxubee County, MS. Simmons, who measured 6-4, 275 during the visit, rates Alabama, LSU and Ole Miss as his top three. Auburn is also pushing hard, and Georgia jumped into the fray by extending an offer on Tuesday. On his visit to Tuscaloosa for the Ole Miss game, Simmons says, “It was a great visit. I loved the game. It was an awesome game. Both teams played well. The outcome doesn’t affect my thoughts one way or the other. I’m just looking for the best school for me and my family.” Simmons says that during the game he was focused on the Tide’s defensive line. “Their schemes are just like Coach (Bo) Davis told me they were,” Simmons says. “I don’t get caught up in the 3-4 and the 4-3, because Alabama plays both. One time in the game the Alabama defensive line pressured the quarterback three or four straight plays and that impressed me.” “I have a great relationship with Coach Davis,” Simmons says. “We talk all the time. I like him a lot. But I don’t get too attached to any of the coaches. My main goal is to play in the NFL. That’s what I’m looking for.” Simmons says that he spoke to Nick Saban during the visit. “Coach Saban told they don’t just want me, he said they need me,” Simmons says. “He said they’re losing a lot of guys after this season and they’ve got to have some guys ready to come in and play.” Simmons also spent time with Tide defensive linemen D.J. Pettway and Jarran Reed. “They’re good guys,” he says. “They told me a lot of positives about Alabama.” Simmons plans to wait until after the season to make his decision.

RASHARD LAWRENCE Tide still in strong position with Louisiana star

ome Tide fans jumped to conclusions when Monroe-Neville, LA star defensive lineman Rashard Lawrence decided to visit LSU rather than Alabama recently. But the UA staff was fully aware that Lawrence’s family had made a previous commitment to visit LSU and that there

A.J. BROWN Bama needs Brown

ne area where Alabama needs a couple of difference-makers is wide receiver, and the Tide still feels very good about its position with Starkville High School star A.J. Brown. The 6-2, 218-pound Brown, who has drawn comparisons to a young Julio Jones, has a strong relationship with the Tide staff. His father is especially fond of Nick Saban and Tide assistant Bo Davis. In addition to his terrific size, Brown has the the kind of speed and explosiveness that college coaches covet.

DEXTER LAWRENCE His mom is highly impressed with Saban’s track record

UA ATHLETICS

was a good chance they’d stick with those plans. A strong source told Tider Insider’s Rodney Orr that Alabama still felt very good about its position with Louisiana’s top prospect.

ne of the nation’s premier prospects who was in Tuscaloosa for the Ole Miss game was Wake Forest, NC mammoth defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence. The 6-4, 330-pound Lawrence made the visit with his mother. Nick Saban has made a strong impression on both Lawrence and his mother. The mother is especially impressed with Saban’s track record for developing players for the NFL. She plans to join Dexter for another Tuscaloosa visit later this season.

NIGEL KNOTT Knott not ready

top prospect not in Tuscaloosa for the Ole Miss game was cornerback Nigel Knott of Madison-Germantown, MS. Instead, the 5-11, 182-pound Knott was on a visit to Oregon, where he had a great trip. Knott was expected to announce a decision for Alabama, but he’s now delayed that decision and many are predicting he’s headed to Oregon. Yes, Oregon does have a connection with Knott’s father, who played at Ole Miss for the current Oregon secondary coach. But Knott’s father also has a a very strong rapport with the Tide staff and there are other factors working in Alabama’s favor that might eventually pay dividends for UA. We’ll see how this eventually ends up, but don’t count out Bama just yet.

UA ATHLETICS

JEFFERY SIMMONS Simmons has another great visit to Tuscaloosa

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