181 - Valley Planet

Transcription

181 - Valley Planet

VOLUME 11 ISSUE 14
#100313102313
READ THE PLANET, IT’S FREE
WWW.VALLEYPLANET.COM
(256) 533 • 4613
ROCKTOBER 3 - 23, 2013
WHAT’S INSIDE?
Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches, Alabama Rising: New Music from the Deep South,
Les Miz, Grounded Coffee: County Lane Road Wakes UP, Local Orbit, Party of One,
Venice Pizza, The Jazz Lounge, The Single Guy,
ReLit: Smokin’ Good Reads Worth a ReKindle
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#100313102313
VOLUME 11 ISSUE 14
THE VALLEY PLANET
In
The
Planet
rocktober 3 - 23, 2013
NEXT ISSUE: Rocktober 24, HALLOWEEN ISSUE!!
THE VALLEY PLANET
VOLUME 11 ISSUE 14
#100313102313
203 Grove Ave , Huntsville Al, 35801, phone 256 533-4613
Publisher
Jill E. Wood
Calendar
Joanie Williams
Graphic Design
Douglas A. Lange
Contributors
Bonnie Roberts
Elaine Nelson
Jackie Anderson
Ricky Thomason
Aaron Hurd
Allison Gregg
Jim Zielinski
Tina Leach
Amanda Conger
Brady Thomas
Tim Owen
Jane DeNeefe
Kallie Ingle Kirk
Maureen Drost
“Dude. Why would you put nuts in my
cranberry orange muffins? Do you hate
me? I don’t even know you. What’s up with
the Haterade, player? Look, if God wanted
you to put nuts in the same scrupmtous
pastry as cranberries and oranges, he
woulda faxed that tidbit from Heaven. See?
Now, begone and take your nuts with you.”
- Benjamin Franklin
Table of Contents
3
On the Cover
4
ALABAMA RISING: New Music from the Deep South, Jane DeNeefe
4
Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches, Maureen Drost
4
Les Misérables…Love Company!
5
Zee’s Rocket City bEAT, Jim Zieliński
5
Gal About Town, Tina Leach
6
Dr. Anarcho’s Rx for Old Stuff That Don’t Suck: I Robot, Alan Parsons
6
ReLit: Smokin’ Good Reads Worth a ReKindle
6
Local Orbit
7
Unchained Maladies, Ricky Thomason
7
Free Will Astrology, Rob Brezsny
8
Music Calendar Begins
9
Music Calendar Continues
10
More Music Calendar
11
Music Calendar Ends
12
Regional Calendar
13
Events Calendar Begins
14
More Events Calendar
15
Party of One, Allison Gregg
15
Venice Pizza, Amanda Conger
15
The Jazz Lounge, Jackie Anderson
16
Events Calendar Continues
17
Grounded Coffee: County Lane Rd Wakes UP, Jim Zieliński
17
Events Calendar Ends
18
Music Exchange
18
The Single Guy: Communi-Date, Aaron Hurd
18
To Yuno from Yunohoo
Letter from the
Publisher
F
all is officially here which means football, school, changing leaves, slower
growing grass, fewer homegrown tomatoes, ragweed, bonfires, fewer mosquitoes (I hope), etc…
It also means a change up of events in Huntsville Metro so make sure to check out our
calendars and stay up with what is going on!
Still tons of things to choose from for every
walk of life. We are so lucky to have so many
venues providing music, art, theatre, dance
fun and entertainment.
Coming up in the next issue is Halloween!
And…the Best of the Valley Readers’ Poll
begins so get ready to cast your votes for
what you think is Best in the Tennessee Valley!
Jill E. Wood, Marshmallow Slinger
On the Cover
Glennis O. Black, Artist
rt has forever been a part of my life. My art is a unique blend of my life, the people in my life
and the natural ability that I have been blessed with. I am an educator with a Master’s Degree
in secondary education and am employed with Limestone County Board of Education. Thru the
years I have enjoyed many different forms of art that include dance, sculpture, and painting. My favorite form of art is oil painting. I find it very relaxing and somewhat therapeutic; the process of applying
paint and creating images that is my interpretation of the things I see. Not unlike many artists, I do favor
certain subject matter. My favorites include: Portraits, landscapes and still life’s. My art can be found in
private collections as far away as Russia and Australia, and from California to Georgia.
A
I cannot boast of a long and impressive list of art academies that I have attended. However, I diligently
engross myself with personal study and I have attended several independent workshops from artists in
Alabama, Arizona and Florida. God has
blessed me in many ways. Ever since I
was very young, I have relished every
opportunity to nurture the talents I have
been blessed with.
Thank you for reading the fine print of the Valley Planet. The Valley Planet and valleyplanet.com are published every three weeks by J W Publications in Huntsville, AL. You can pick up the paper free all over the
place or get it free on the web. Copyright 2003 by the Valley Planet, Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction or use without our permission is strictly prohibited. The views and opinions expressed within
these pages and on the web site are not necessarily those of the Valley Planet or its staff. The Valley Planet
is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or art. Back issues are available for viewing on our web site
www.valleyplanet.com in the archives section. You may reach the Valley Planet office @ 256.533.4613 or
by mail at Valley Planet 203 Grove Ave. Huntsville, AL 35801. Contact by email: [email protected].
Subscriptions to the Valley Planet are now available for $50 a year in the USA.
256-533-4613 VALLEY PLANET
I guess you could say that much of my
work is a reflection of my values. I sincerely enjoy bringing pleasure to my
family and friends through art. Growing up on a family farm in Killingsworth Cove, a community near Gurley,
Alabama, provided me with an enriched
childhood where family values and hard
work were the staples of everyday life.
My parents are Bobby and Dorothy
Baugh Osmer. I have two sisters and one
brother. I am married to Jon and we have
two sons, Ben & Josh. My family supports and encourages me in my art and
the opportunities it presents to touch the
lives of others.
http:/ [email protected],
www.glennisblack.com
Deadline for October 24 Issue is October 11.
THE VALLEY PLANET
#100313102313
VOLUME 11 ISSUE 14
3
ALABAMA RISING:
New Music from
the Deep South
by Jane DeNeefe
mysterious orb hovers like a starship west
of the Parkway and south of Governor’s
Drive. Silky tones of ruby, amethyst, emerald and amber shift gradually against the dark
sky. This is Lowe Mill’s water tower, with lighting designed by Doug Bennett. Recently, Doug
has turned his talents toward creating a special
music series at Lowe Mill’s Flying Monkey Theater. Jane DeNeefe, author of Rocket City Rock
& Soul, interviews Doug about Alabama Rising:
New Music from the Deep South.
A
Q: How did your idea for a concert series arise?
A: Back in the spring, I started volunteering as a
sound and lighting tech at Flying Monkey Theatre. One of the first shows I worked was Muscle
Shoals’ The Bear. I walked out with my jaw on
the floor. It was a wonderful show.
About the same time, I stumbled on the Paste
Magazine online article “12 Alabama Bands You
Should Be Listening To Right Now”. So I listened. I talked with the FlyMo people, and they
were open to the idea of me trying to find and
book some bands.
I thought a series would be fun. I also thought
it would make marketing and promotion easier if
we had this 6-8 month continuity, especially if I
came up with a graphic image that might stick in
people’s minds. Hence the historic Alabama map
that serves as a background for the series poster.
floor of Lowe Mill. It’s warm, it’s intimate, and
the acoustics are superb. Musicians uniformly
love playing there.
I’m in awe of what has been created at Lowe
Mill and Flying Monkey by incredibly dedicated,
hard-working people. FlyMo theatre manager
Anna Sue Courtney has been hard at it for years.
She has an unerring instinct for what is interesting
and wonderful.
Doug describes the bands:
Oct.5: The Great Book of John: “Wilco-y, Radioheadish,” with Shaheed & DJ Supreme: “socially
conscious hip-hop with a positive message”
Nov. 9: St. Paul & the Broken Bones: “classic
Memphis/Shoals soul”
Dec. 7: Lee Bains III & the Gloryfires: “Allmans/
Dead but equally The Clash/The Who”
Dec. 28 The Bear: “magical, lyrical, playful, poetic. Beyond genre or category”
Jan. 25 Belle Adair: “spacey, folky, truly original”
Dates to be announced in 2014: The Grenadines:
“sleek, sexy pop” and Dillon Hodges: “Southern
Gothic, wrapped in stunning guitar work.”
As a special holiday treat, Alabama Rising will
screen the Sundance documentary “Muscle
Shoals” on December 26. To learn more, find
“Alabama Rising” on Facebook, then follow the
jewel-toned beacon to Lowe Mill for Alabama
Rising: New Music from the Deep South.
W
hen I discovered recently that Huntsville had their own Jimmy John’s sandwich shop on Airport Road, I couldn’t
wait to try the new diner and see how it measured
up to my first grand experience in Chattanooga.
The franchise promises “subs so fast you’ll
freak,” and it delivers. Now this isn’t a fast food
chain in the burgers and fries sense, but much to
my surprise the service for a solo Thursday lunch
was even quicker than in Chattanooga and the
food was just as tasty. I’d hardly finished paying
when the woman who made the 8” Totally Tuna
sandwich handed it to me neatly wrapped. You’ll
notice I said 8” not 6”, there’s no skimping on
the toppings, and the price will surprise you. Just
$4.99. Add a bag of chips and a medium drink,
and the total comes to just over $8.
French bread and the sliced seven-grain variety
are made fresh in-house each day. You’ll find no
cold cuts here trucked in from the Illinois home
office or a regional facility. Employees slice the
meat right in front of you.
For my solo visit, the “problem” came in deciding what to order. The menu features six 8” subs
plus a BLT, 11 giant club sandwiches with twice
the meat and cheese for $5.99, low-carb lettuce
wraps, and the J.J. Gargantuan for $7.99.
lone cheese, capicola, lettuce, tomato, onion, and
a special vinaigrette. Brenda ordered a large kosher dill pickle with her sandwich for only $1.25.
She couldn’t finish it and took a sizable portion
home.
To finish the meal, three of my friends tried
the soft-baked chocolate chip cookies and pronounced them delicious. Don’t forget to try the
oatmeal raisin also. The charge is $1.50 per cookie, and they’re big enough to split.
So what’s not to like at this eatery? We really had
no complaints about the food, the service, or the
attitude of the staff who we found warm and welcoming. One member of our party did point out
that an employee nearby was cleaning the sometimes witty, sometimes wise posters on the wall
with a dirty duster. However, the restaurant boasted a 96 Health Department rating, so it’s hard to
judge something like this on one visit.
For myself, I have to admire the entrepreneurial
skills of the 19-year-old Illinois teen who started
this venture in 1983. More than 1,600 restaurants
30 years later spell huge culinary success.
By the way, if you don’t live near Southeast Huntsville, you can also find Jimmy John’s in Madison
and Decatur. This location is “the youngest baby”
of the three, I’m told.
Image courtesy of St. Paul and the Broken Bones.
Les Misérables…Love Company!
J
ourney back to 19th Century France when Independent Musical Productions (IMP) brings Les
Misérables to the Rocket City. The world-renowned musical marches across the Huntsville boards
from Friday, October 4 through Saturday, October 19 on the Main Stage Theatre at Lee High
School, 2500 Meridian Street, North.
This marks the first-ever community theater production of the Complete Broadway Version of “Les
Miz” in the Tennessee Valley area.
Based on Victor Hugo’s epic tome, the story focuses on Jean Valjean (Jim Wood), an unjustly imprisoned ex-convict whose very existence assures lifelong conflict with Inspector Javert (David Caine), a
by-the-book gendarme.
However, he is set on a new moral path when he meets the Bishop of Digne (Col. Russell Leaphart),
whose compassion and forgiveness compel him to leave his former life - if not Javert - behind and
begin anew. Unfortunately, this places him in violation of his parole. Soon Valjean finds himself Mayor of Montreuil-sur-Mer and the owner of a local factory, where one
of his employees, Fantine (Karen Young), is an unwed mother forced to leave her child Cosette (Maddie Johnson) in the “care” of the unscrupulous Monsieur (Jim Zieliński) and Madame (Enzie Willet)
Thénardier.
Their preference for their own daughter, Éponine (Shelby Waggoner), is made only too plain and Cosette is lucky to be rescued by Valjean, who takes on the role of adoptive father.
Years pass, and he and a grown-up Cosette (Juliana Carter) have carved out a new life for themselves. The Thénardier family, including Éponine (Jenny Stricklin-Mahan), resurfaces. More forebodingly,
the dogged Javert reenters the picture, as well.
Éponine has developed an unrequited love for Marius (Breck Robinson), a young student who, along
with his compatriots, which include fellow scholar Enjolras (Scott Allman) and a patriotic young boy
named Gavroche (Joey Smith), are soon embroiled in planning what would become the Paris Student
Uprising of 1832. As Éponine pines, however, it is Cosette who catches the eye of our fair hero.
The double-edged sword that is life hangs over Valjean, a fact greatly underscored by the impending
warfare, the burgeoning love triangle, the dogged determination of Javert, and his identification by the
family Thénardier.
The resolution of the story is brought about by devices comprising four parts Heaven, one part fate, two
parts luck, blended with the upheaval and reclamation of ideals and swirled in Hugo’s own particular
irony.
4
by Maureen Drost
The following day I invited several hungry friends
to join me for lunch. All four enjoyed their hearty
subs with Jayne commenting on just how fresh
the bread tasted. Emily ordered the Totally Tuna
on wheat which I’d tried the day before, Brenda
and I opted for the vegetarian, and Chris went
Italian with the Vito. That’s Jimmy John’s “original Italian sub” featuring Genoa salami, provo-
Q: What do you hope to accomplish with Alabama Rising?
A: I want to bring this interesting new Alabama
music to Huntsville, and also help the Flying
Monkey and Lowe Mill continue to grow and
thrive.
In my career, I’ve seen and worked a lot of great
shows in a lot of great places and there’s something special about that little theatre on the 2nd
Jimmy John’s
Gourmet
Sandwiches
#100313102313
The opening gun of the 2013 – 2014 season, Les
Miz is directed by the award-winning team of
Vivienne Atkins and P.J. Sligting and musical director Barry Petty, with staging by Patrick Johnson. For the first time, IMP presents a show for
THREE weekends, as follows:
*Friday – Saturday, 4 – 5 October,
Friday – Saturday, 11 – 12 October, and
Thursday – Saturday, 17 – 19 October
Evening Performances at 7:30 p.m.
*Sunday, 6 & 13 October
Matinée Performances at 2:30 p m.
General Admission Tickets are: Adults – $25;
Student/Senior/Military – $23; Children, 12 &
Under – $15 and Group rates are available. Get
yours by calling (256) 415-SHOW (7469), online
at www.imphuntsville.org/tickets.php, or through
members of the cast. Note that all online ticket
purchases are subject to a $2.00 Convenience
Fee. Doors open 30 (thirty) minutes prior to each
performance and there is ample free parking available at the school.
Note that IMP is partnering with downtown’s
Amendment XXI to provide free trolley trips between the bar [123 North Side Square] and Lee
High School for those who want to dine on the
square before or after the performance. Call (256)
715-0131 and hop on board!
Epic, grand, and uplifting, Les Miz is a modernday masterpiece whose powerful affirmation of
the indomitable human spirit packs an emotional punch that has thrilled audiences all over the
world. Huntsville audiences will soon feel just
the same!
VOLUME 11 ISSUE 14
THE VALLEY PLANET
Zee’s Rocket
City bEAT
Lowe Mills’ mill-wide El DdlM celebration on
Friday, 1 November.
by Jim Zieliński
LAST-MINUTE ALERT: This Saturday?
*Les Misérables
*23rd Annual North Alabama Scottish Festival
[9:00 a m. – 5:30 p.m.; Sharon Johnston Park;
Coleman Road; (256) 837-9596; http://tennesseevalleyscottishsociety.org]
*Cullman’s Oktoberfest Kickoff [Times Vary;
City-Wide Celebration; 1-(800) 533-1258; www.
cullmanoktoberfest.com; [email protected]]
*11th Annual Fiesta [Noon – 8:00 p m.; Birmingham’s Linn Park, 710 20th Street North; (205)
410-8776; www.fiestahbc.com; dlovoykoch@
gmail.com]
*Celebrate Nashville Cultural Festival [10:00
a m. – 6:00 p m.; Centennial Park; 2500 West End
Avenue; (615) 955-0881; http://celebratenashville.org; [email protected]]
In short, if you’re a fan of Haggis Rellenos or
Wurst-stuffed Empanadas smothered in HP
Sauce, now’s your chance to howl.
…As for Les Miz, I only mention it because it
concerns a loaf of bread. And we love bread.
Good News - European Market Anastasia [(256)
882-7710; www.europeanmarketonline.com] is
moving! To avoid the Wal-Mart Anschluss, the
old store will close as the NEW one opens, midto-late-October, at 2745 Bob Wallace Avenue SW
[Westcorp Boulevard, SW between Triana Boulevard & First Avenue], behind Beltone.
More Good News - For those craving a hint of
Día de los Muertos, Happy Tummy [Lowe Mill
First Floor, 2211 Seminole Drive, SW; (256) 3488132; www mmmhappytummy.com] is offering
Sugar Skulls. Expect them to run out quickly!
Prices are $5 per, for sale all week leading up to
Caveat: Calaveras de Azúcar are NOT for devouring, but for décor. It’s been years since Catherine Shearer made them and she’s reviving them
for the fun of it. Expect HT to feature a Mexicaninspired special…and maybe a matching dessert
and drink.
Tasia Never Stops: As she prepares her Saturday,
12 October Grand Opening for the new Belle
Chèvre [11:00 a m. – 4:00 p m.; 26910 Bethel
Road; (256) 732-3577/(800) 735-2238; www.
bellechèvre.com; tasia@bellechèvre.com] creamery - a transmogrified, 8,000-square-foot cotton
warehouse behind the BC Cheese Shop/Tasting
Room in nearby Elkmont - La Malakasis has actually raked in another award, if by proxy.
Celluloid proxy, that is: “Tasia and the Cheese
Revolution,” Becky Beamer’s nine-minute short,
premièred at Birmingham’s 15th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival and promptly won the Alan
Hunter “Best Alabama Film” award…a harbinger
of good times.
(We now continue with Part
II of Tina’s Film Festival
Chronicles, in which Tina
finds herself at DragonCon.)
round the time me
and my Traveling
Companion’s short
film (“The Robbery,” you
can find it at TinaLeach.
com) was accepted in the
Sidewalk Film Festival in
Birmingham (see last issue),
it was also accepted in the
DragonCon Film Festival.
A
DragonCon is a yearly scifi/comic book/geek culture
convention that takes place
on Labor Day weekend in
Atlanta. It boasted roughly 57,000 people in attendance this year (in addition to the normal Atlanta hustle and bustle. Seriously, there were so
many people in Atlanta that weekend, I would
have easily believed that there were at least 2
royal weddings and the annual meeting of People
Who Like to Stand in Lines.)
There are a ton of things to do. Lots of panels
hosted by celebrities. We tried to go to a Rifftrax
panel but it was full. That happens a lot. There
are a lot of lines (I’m thinking the People Who
Like to Stand in Lines meetings must spill over
into DragonCon). We did attend a Ghosthunt-
THE VALLEY PLANET
Day Trips: If you, your family, or your friends
were part of Fayetteville’s Elk Cotton Mill Village, you’ll want to head to the 21st Family
Homecoming/Reunion [Fayetteville Recreations
Center; 1203 Winchester Highway (Highway 63
East] on Sunday, 13 October. Along with buffet
by Angie’s Catering, it offers singing, storytelling, a “Walk Down Memory Lane,” and general
socializing. Those dining with us are also eligible
to draw for door prizes.
It’s pretty common to find a big ol’ Country Ham
amongst the possible wins. Just sayin.’
In celebration of said move, BC is hosting a
“Southern Reinvention” Weekend [http://southernreinvention.com/], a one-of-a-kind soirée
spotlighting Southern artisans “at the forefront
of the movement to reinvent the South’s future,
focusing on tradition and handicraft.” Your $5
ticket includes classes by historians, soap-makers,
cotton farmers, and Tasia. Expect Jim ‘N Nicks
BBQ for lunching purposes and at 3:00, singing
by southern-style rocker Donica Knight (“equal
parts of soul and sass”).
While on the subject…ahem…Boo! Food Network’s “Halloween Wars” begin Sunday, 6 October. I typically hate food competitions, but this
one’s…different. Speaking of which, expect Halloween references, further info on Lowe Mill’s
DdlM Celebration, and an update on European
Market’s new digs in Zee’s Rocket City bEAT,
next ish!
So, be there and congratulate the lady in person.
Over cheese.
Or to paraphrase Hrundi V. Bakshi, “Goatie Num
Nums.”
Something Useful This Way Comes:
The
Küchen-Hexe tells us keeping Marshmallows in
your Brown Sugar will keep it from clumping.
Who knew?
I also plan to review Belle Chèvre, its cheese, and
its cheese products.
Many of you who attend local theatre and dance
productions may wish to join the “People Who
It was great fun. Our plan was to win the film
festival and set off a chain reaction that led to the
movie rights being bought by Tim Burton, who
would immediately make an
even more whimsical version
of my mime story, and would
cast Helena Bonham Carter in
my role and probably Johnny
Depp as the mime leader,
making us all members of a
best friends gang, with me
as Tim Burton’s script writer
for future endeavors. That
didn’t happen, but we did get
nominated for Best Comedy,
which means we were in the
top three. Regardless, Tim
Burton call me.
Here Be Dragons
For YOUR invitation, e-mail wingsawards@
gmail.com or call (256) 539-3379 today! Reservations must be sent back postmarked by Friday,
October 18. After that date, only Program-Only
reservations can be taken.
BC’s new creamery replaces their old, cramped,
rented haunts, boosting production and then
some: the new epicenter will offer a cooking
school, classrooms, loading dock, and onsite
cheese-making; daily guided/self-guided tours/
tastings; and, as Tasia describes it, “a cool place
to hang out. “
ers one. And we saw a comedy show that had
Bill Corbett (MST3K) and Adam Savage (Mythbusters) doing stand-up.
by Tina Leach
Bring You Art” at the 21st Annual Wings Awards
Banquet, Wednesday, October 30, or Halloween
‘Een. In the VBC’s North Hall 3, you’ll enjoy
Prime Rib, Prosciutto-wrapped Chicken Breast
Stuffed w/Gouda, Pasta Pomodoro (Vegetarian),
or a TBD Vegan option. Join us for din-din and
the ceremony, hosted by some local media icons
and highlighted by selections from the 2012-13
Season.
With this being my first DragonCon in 11 years (back when
there were only 2 host hotels
instead of 5 and waaaaay less
people), and my Traveling
Companion’s first DragonCon
ever, we totally screwed up, did everything wrong,
missed a lot, and still managed to have a great
weekend. I made notes of the things I learned,
which I will now give to you, my loyal reader (or
person who randomly flipped to this page):
1.
Coordinate and make time with friends
– Seriously, there are 57,000 people there. If you
want to see your friends, plan ahead. Find a meeting place. Four Square doesn’t count. Even if
you’re at the same hotel, there’s a good chance
you will never see each other.
2.
Get as close to downtown Atlanta as
possible - When we found out the movie was
#100313102313
accepted, we had barely a month to find a hotel.
Guess what? All the nearby hotels were full.
Book early. Two of the five host hotels (Regency
Hyatt, Marriott Marquis, Hilton, Sheraton, Westin) are already booked up for 2014 and 2 others
I believe will go on sale in October (check DragonCon.org for hotel information, including codes
to get discounted rooms in the DragonCon block).
Downtown parking gets costly. You also have the
option for Marta. If you are near the Marta line, it
will take you right to the heart of it.
3.
Bring some cool costumes – Cosplay is
serious business at DragonCon. Most of the people are in costume. It’s fun. Just remember, you
are still in Atlanta in the summer. And there is
walking involved. So plan accordingly and stay
cool.
4.
Learn where you’re going – This is a no
brainer, but I still found myself walking around
downtown Atlanta not knowing where I was.
5.
Keep peanuts in your purse at all times
– Okay, this one is just for me, because all that
walking and heat and eating different foods at
different times just made my sugar levels plummet. Had I carried peanuts, I’d have been fine. If
you’re hypoglycemic, carry peanuts.
In addition to celebrities, merchant tables, panels,
and all that, there’s also a film festival, which is
the reason I was there. It was great seeing all the
short films that were technically our competition,
but really, just getting accepted to the festival was
an honor. The fact that the crowd loved it and
reacted better than expected, that was just icing
on the cake.
Note: There are no actual dragons at DragonCon.
I just wanted to make that clear. I’d hate to start
a panic.
VOLUME 11 ISSUE 14
5
ReLit: Smokin’ Good Reads Worth a
ReKindle
Dr. Anarcho’s Rx for Old Stuff That Don’t
Suck: “I Robot” (legacy edition) by Alan Parsons.
lways an Edgar Allan Poe fan, I was
hooked on Alan Parson’s first LP, “Tales
of Mystery and Imagination,” on which
he took Poe’s poetry and set it to music so eerie, dark and brooding that Edgar Allan himself
would approve.
His second release, another concept album, “I
Robot” was released and my opinion grew even
higher.
A
Now, a 35th Anniversary ‘Legacy’ edition of the
Alan Parsons Project 1977 concept album “I
Robot,” was issued on 17 September 2013. All
things old become new again.
The set features a remastered version of the album
on disc one, with a bonus disc containing 14 additional tracks, nine of which are previously unreleased. I love the “behind the scenes” glimpse
into how the album was created, mastered and
mixed.
Alan Parsons has personally overseen this project
with Sally Woolfson (daughter of Eric Woolfson,
manager, sometimes singer, and co-founder of the
Alan Parsons Project).
Alan Parsons is an English audio engineer’s engineer, musician, and record producer. He was involved with the production of several significant
albums, including The Beatles’ “Abbey Road”
and “Let It Be,” as well as the Pink Floyd’s immortal “The Dark Side of the Moon” for which
Pink Floyd credited him as an important contributor. Parsons was known to have swapped shifts
during the engineering of “The Dark Side of the
Moon” so he could work entirely on the project.
His efforts earned his first Grammy nomination.
Wikipedia’s bio of Parsons says, in part, “In October 1967, at the age of 18, Parsons went to work
as an assistant engineer at Abbey Road Studios,
where he earned his first credit on the LP Abbey
Road. He became a regular there, engineering
such projects as Paul McCartney’s “Wild Life”
and “Red Rose Speedway,” and five albums by
The Hollies.
LOCAL ORBIT
by Kallie Ingle Kirk
I
’ve known these guys for about 5 years now
and they were one of the first local bands I
got to know and love. They’ve got some big
news to share and I know of no better way for
everyone to hear it than in the Valley Planet. I’m
the one who gets to bring it to you (in their words
with their story) and for that, I’m feeling pretty
special.
We conducted our interview via email to make it as
convenient as possible for everyone. Anthony and
Wes, as the band’s original members, responded
with a wealth of information about who Local Orbit is and how they got there, where they want to
go and what we all have to look forward to.
The name…
Local Orbit came about as a bit of a “name of
necessity,” if you will. Back in my senior year of
college at UAH, the original drummer and Anthony had been brainstorming names and were
having no luck. When we asked ourselves what
we were doing, we decided we were a local rock
band in the Rocket City so the best way to sum it
up would be Local Orbit. How did all of you meet?
I met Anthony in the parking lot of a gas station. I
found an ad on The Toe (no longer in existence),
6
He was known for doing more than what would
normally be considered the scope of a recording
engineer’s duties. He considered himself to be a
recording director, likening his contribution to
recordings to what Stanley Kubrick contributed
to film.
This is apparent in his work with Al Stewart’s
“Year of the Cat”, where Parsons added the saxophone part and transformed the original folk concept into the jazz-influenced ballad that put Al
Stewart onto the charts. It is also heard in Parsons’
influence on the Hollies’ “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s
My Brother” and “The Air That I Breathe”, sharp
departures from their popular 1960s hits “Stay”,
“Just One Look”, “Stop! Stop! Stop!” or “Bus
Stop”. Disc: 1
1. I Robot
2. I Wouldn’t t Want To Be Like You
3. Some Other Time
4. Breakdown
5. Don’t Let It Show
6. The Voice
7. Nucleus
8. Day After Day (The Show Must Go On)
9. Total Eclipse
10. Genesis Ch1 v32
– “On the Occasion of My Last Afternoon” by Kaye Gibbons.
E
veryone who read and enjoyed Charles Frazier’s mesmerizing prose and great storytelling in
“Cold Mountain” should consider reading On the Occasion of My Last Afternoon, the poetically
charged fictional reminiscences of Emma Garnet Tate Lowell, circa 1842-1900. For one thing,
it was Frazier’s already-published friend Gibbons who, with Frazier’s wife’s connivance, pried Cold
Mountain from his grip and got it into publishers’ hands.
I thank her for that.
In OTOOMLA an extraordinary woman recalls a nation’s bloodiest epoch and a magnificent life forged
in its fires.
The San Francisco Chronicle review says… “Margaret Mitchell’s blunderbuss epic (GWTW) can’t
hold a sweet potato candle to the vivid pages” of Gibbon’s work.
Amazon Books review: “beyond their Civil War setting - a first for Gibbons, who’s noted for 20th
century tales - the two books share resonant Southern literary accents, characters with similarly obstinate responses to enormous grief, and a shivery sense of history’s stark shadow falling across everyday events. Oprah Winfrey twice recommended Gibbons’ fiction and Walker Percy compared her to
Faulkner. Oprah probably liked Gibbons’s heroines for their plucky refusal to buckle under oppression
- a trait shared by Gibbons herself, who triumphed over the manic-depressive illness that drove her
mother to suicide.”
Frankly, I prefer Gibbons to Faulkner. She does not obfuscate her stories with 200 word sentences. In
writing, simple is often better and is harder to write.
“Gibbon’s heroine, Emma, shivers under the tyranny of her plantation daddy, Mr. Tate, who slits the
throat of a slave who talks back to him and just might do the same to his half-dozen children. There is
no enormity of which he is incapable, this bellowing Simon Legree with an autodidact’s education and
a self-made man’s bottomless urge to rise above his raising. He is, as he might have thunderingly put it,
“a pluperfect son of Satan.” Only Clarice can fight Samuel Tate to a verbal draw and prevent slave uprisings on the eve of the war. Clarice helps save Emma, as does Emma’s impeccable swain Dr. Quincy
Lowell, who sweeps in like a cool Boston breeze to dispel the dismal tidewater miasma.”
Disc: 2
1. U.S Radio Commercial for I Robot
2. Boules (I Robot Experiment)
3. Hilary Western Soprano Vocal Rehearsal
4. Extract 1 from The Alan Parsons Project
Audio Guide
Audio Guide
6. I Wouldn’t Want To Be Like You
(Backing Track Rough)
7. Some Other Time – Complete vocal by
Jaki Whitren
8. Breakdown (Early demo of backing riff)
Audio Guide
10. Breakdown – The Choir
11. Don’t Let It Show Demo
12. Day After Day (Early Stage Rough Mix)
13. Genesis Ch. 1 V. 32 – Choir Session
14. The Naked Robot
Amid the carnage there is a love story.
an online message board for musicians and they
happened to be at practice when I called so we
met up at the nearby Big Apple Gas station. They
were all in polos and khakis and I showed up with
cut-off Jincos and a blue mohawk but they led the
way to the practice spot. I was hooked after the
first few songs.
Tell me about the most fun you had at a show. Anthony: We specialize in fun so there are so
many moments to choose from. From the awkward rants and banter between Wes and myself
on stage to the absolutely crazy things the guys
have let me pull off when it comes to costume
shows and comedy skits, my hope is to always
have something fun up my sleeve for the people
who attend our shows. The most fun moment has
to go to the Super Power Social that we put on at
Olivia’s back in 2010. It was our first show with
Scott as our lead guitarist and it was such a well
received night and so many people showed up in
costumes and we had such a blast. Who does the songwriting?
Local Orbit is set up to be a team effort. We all
kind of add our ideas. Who/what inspires you?
The band is a bit brash and political in ways so
themes of social commentary often find their way
into my writings. But there’s a pretty big original
catalog attached to the band and there are songs
about everything. That’s the great thing about
having a band where everyone contributes equally. Tell me about the best show you ever played.
You know Kallie, you have been along the ride for
so many good times with this band that I should
be asking you! There are honestly so many cool
things about being in a band and my advice to
everyone on the planet is go join one because the
times you have in one are definitely times for the
history books. Some of my favorite moments on
stage have been either at Crossroads (when it
was downtown) or over at Voodoo or Coppertop. Those places always have such amazing crowds
and that what you want as a performer. My all
time favorite moment has to be the time Crossroads let me go crazy for Halloween. WWW.VALLEYPLANET.COM
#100313102313
This book is more than a great read, it’s a place and time you go live in.
Review by Rick Thomason.
mer of 2005. I’ve been in several
bands starting since I was in high
school. I played in Skull Murphy
back in my home town in Richmond, VA and playing Blues with
Dana Fletcher is what brought
me to Huntsville.
How would you define your
genre? Doug there are not supposed to be any line spaces here
but I couldn’t fix
Favorite band(s)? I’m a child of the 90s so give me grunge or give
me death. Pearl Jam. Nirvana. The Toadies. Shudder to Think. Radiohead. Jawbox. How long have you all been playing?
Anthony: I’ve been writing music and playing
guitar since about late 1994. We still play some
of the songs I wrote in high school. That’s pretty
cool / really weird sometimes. Wes: When I was 5 I looked up at my dad and
said, “I wanna be a rocker”. My father asked me
if I was serious and I responded with a resounding, “Yes!” He then told me to go learn piano.
So my Mother bought a piano and I got started. I
learned my first bass lines on an acoustic guitar
at 12 years old. I’ve been playing in bands since
1996 and I’ve been in Local Orbit since the sum-
VOLUME 11 ISSUE 14
Anthony: I think we are a rock
band that kind of leaves itself
open to what kind of rock band
it can be. I don’t ever want to be
trapped in any type of box to what I can or can’t
create. I have the urge to create so many different
kinds of music. I don’t want a label.
Wes: I try not to.
What are your biggest obstacles in reaching your
goal(s)?
Anthony: I feel like I have succeeded in setting
out to what I want from music. I get to create
it with the people I want and how I want to. It’s
pretty amazing and I feel pretty lucky to work with
the people I get to work with. Wes: We have achieved what I want out of playing
and creating music. I’ve never been more proud
of anything than I am of this album we just finished. It moves me. It makes me want to pick up
my bass and play along. A last note from Wes: Thanks to whoever reads
this for caring enough to read it. Thanks to the
people who have supported our music over the
years. Thank you Huntsville for making me feel
like a part of the music of this town and being
generally awesome. Peace out.
Catch Local Orbit live at Coppertop Dine ‘N Dive
October 5th and check out their FB page Facebook.com/localorbitmusic to purchase their new
CD. I promise, you will NOT be disappointed!!
Local Orbit is: Anthony Nicholson: Vocals, Lead
Guitar; Wesley Russell: Bass, Lead and backing
vocals; Scott Hodges: Guitar, backing vocals; Nathan Guza: Drums
THE VALLEY PLANET
UNCHAINED MALADIES
FREE WILL
ASTROLOGY
by Ricky Thomason
I
f you had to choose one book to read under a bridge,
what would it be?
October 3 -23, 2013
© Copyright 2013 Rob Brezsny
The raggedy man slumped next to his mobile home, drink
beside him, and read a book. I say “mobile home” because
refrigerator boxes are easily moved from under one bridge
to another.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Are you good at haggling? Do you maybe even enjoy the challenge
of negotiating for a better price, of angling for a
fairer deal? The coming week will be a favorable
time to make extensive use of this skill. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, you
will thrive on having friendly arguments with
just about everyone, from your buddies to your
significant other to your mommy to God Herself.
Everywhere you go, I encourage you to engage
in lively discussions as you hammer out compromises that will serve you well. Be cheerful and
adaptable and forceful.
It was shortly after Memorial Day this year and reminded
me of something I wrote several years ago after a drizzly
winter’s day encounter.
***
With rheumy-eyed deliberation, the much used man in the
little used bookstore thumbed through abused books on the
bargain shelf. The used man was killing time and time was
killing him - faster than it does most.
I became aware of him a few minutes earlier when I overheard obvious distress emanate from inside the
bathroom - which was far too close to those bargain books I perused. I abandoned them immediately.
When the used man emerged from the ‘loo, I concluded the ruckus was the sound of his successful
defense against a vicious attack by the sink, soap and water.
He did, however, bathe in the luxurious warmth of the musty store.
Looking back, I am aware that we sometimes ignore or make light of things because they make us too
uncomfortable to look at them for long. There is a danger that we might really see.
There is that danger for some, but my growing cynicism makes me understand there are plenty who
simply don’t care, are more apt to think the guy should have used his GI Bill benefits and attended
college after Vietnam instead of partying it away. If he has a loose screw he can go to the VA hospital.
After all, Americans do love to honor our heroes
who serve.
Somehow, the stirring words we hear every year on Memorial Day are belied by our actions. I have
seen several soldiers have meals paid for in restaurants by appreciative civilians. I think it’s a nice
gesture, but I also wonder how they might treat the young men after they are discharged, years down
a PTSD’s dirty road.
Back to the bookstore:
Wearing his soiled cloak of invisibility, he looked through me also and turned to the bargain books.
Wouldn’t you know it? Some of the well-used books bore dirty covers, insides smudged and torn, occasional pages and whole chapters missing, art imitating life, the meaning diminished, or lost completely,
while the end of the story remains as certain as lonely death.
It was a brief respite before the used man returned to the cold, wet streets.
He chose a thick book and paid for it with small change. I could not see the book’s title, but I was curious. He chose so carefully.
If you could carry only one book to read under a bridge, what would it be?
I have this niggling feeling that some of you just lied and said, “The Bible.”
I had the feeling that the used man bought the book to read, not just as an excuse to escape the elements
and use the bathroom. The book might later have been transformed from entertainment to toilet paper,
and later, tinder for a guttering fire, a sixty-cent trifecta.
He clutched his bag, shuffled out and headed homeless, showered in the susurrus of spray from tires
on wet pavement.
Then it struck me to look at this deal from the viewpoint of the One-percent. I knew where he was
headed. I should have followed the used man and counted the number of kids he abducted, robberies he
committed, and saw if he met his daily quota of rapes and murders.
How could I have been so blind? It was obvious to anyone that the used man bought that big used book
for use as a weapon. The heft would deliver a blow almost equal to that of the Bible / cudgels wielded
by far too many pseudo Christians. I should have called HPD. The bookstore owner ran no background
check on this shady dude. He didn’t even ask for ID.
Times are getting rough and are going to get rougher. What is your reaction when the homeless ask,
“Will you help me?”
Perhaps you don’t recognize him as the soldier whom you bought lunch some years ago.
I do help sometimes, based on gut feelings.
The used man at the used bookstore asked for nothing. If I had it to do over again, I’d buy him another
book, some hot coffee, a burger, and a bottle of Mad Dog. There’s something perversely satisfying
about being able to give a man complete happiness; make him King For A Day for twenty bucks.
Besides that, you’d get a good story. And there’s always the “What if He was one of us,” and the “That
which you didn’t do for the least of them...” angles. Can’t you just imagine a scruffy longhair come
knocking for help at the doors of some of these opulent salvation insurance corporations only to be told,
“Go away. We don’t know you.”
And He says, “That’s for sure, and I’m telling Daddy.”
THE VALLEY PLANET
#100313102313
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In David Markson’s
experimental novel Wittgenstein’s Mistress, the
protagonist fantasizes about the winter she lived
at the Louvre Museum in Paris. She says that to
keep warm she made big fires and burned some
of the museum’s precious artifacts. I’m hoping
you won’t do anything remotely resembling that
mythic event in the coming week, Taurus. I understand that you may be going through a cold
spell - a time when you’re longing for more heat
and light. But I beg you not to sacrifice enduring
beauty in order to ameliorate your temporary discomfort. This, too, shall pass.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “Don’t say you
want love,” writes San Francisco author Stephen
Sparks. “Say you want the morning light through
a paint-flecked window; say you want a gust of
wind scraping leaves along the pavement and hills
rolling toward the sea; say you want to notice, in
a tree you walk past every day, the ruins of a nest
exposed as the leaves fall away; a slow afternoon
of conversation in a shadowy bar; the smell of
bread baking.” That’s exactly the oracle I want to
give you, Gemini. In my opinion, you can’t afford
to be generic or blank in your requests for love.
You must be highly specific. You’ve got to ask for
the exact feelings and experiences that will boost
the intensity of your lust for life. (Here’s Sparks’
Tumblr page: invisiblestories.tumblr.com.)
CANCER (June 21-July 22): “The world breaks
everyone, and afterward, many are stronger in
the broken places,” wrote Cancerian writer Ernest
Hemingway. By my estimation, my fellow Crabs,
we are now entering a phase of our astrological cycle when we can make dramatic progress in healing the broken places in ourselves. But even better
than that: As we deal dynamically with the touchy
issues that caused our wounds, we will become
stronger than we were before we got broken.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Let’s hope you have given deep thought to understanding who you are at
this moment of your life. Let’s also hope that you
have developed a clear vision of the person you
would like to become in, say, three years. How
do you feel about the gap between the current
YOU and the future YOU? Does it oppress you?
Does it motivate you? Maybe a little of both? I’ll
offer you the perspective of actress Tracee Ellis
Ross. “I am learning every day,” she told Uptown
Magazine, “to allow the space between where I
am and where I want to be to inspire me and not
terrify me.”
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Do the words “purity” and “purify” have any useful purpose? Or
have they been so twisted by religious fundamentalists and mocked by decadent cynics that they’re
mostly just farcical? I propose that you take them
seriously in the coming weeks. Give them your
own spin. For instance, you could decide to purify
yourself of petty attitudes and trivial desires that
aren’t in alignment with your highest values. You
might purify yourself of self-deceptions that have
gotten you into trouble and purify yourself of resentments that have blocked your creative energy.
At the very least, Virgo, cleanse your body with
extra-healthy food, good sleep, massage, exercise, and sacred sex.
VOLUME 11 ISSUE 14
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): I periodically hike
alone into the serene hills north of San Francisco
and perform a set of my songs for the birds, insects, squirrels, and trees. Recently I discovered
that British comedian Milton Jones tried a similar
experiment. He did his stand-up act for a herd of
cows on a farm in Hertfordshire. I can’t speak for
Jones’ motivations, but one of the reasons I do my
nature shows is because they bring out my wild,
innocent, generous spirit. Now is a good time for
you to do something similar for yourself, Libra.
What adventures can you undertake that will fully
activate your wild, innocent, generous spirit?
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Are you anxious
and agitated, afraid that you’re careening out of
control? Is there a flustered voice in your head
moaning, “Stop the insanity!”? Well, relax, dear
Scorpio. I promise you that you no longer have to
worry about going cray-cray. Why? Because you
have already gone cray-cray, my friend. That is
correct. You slipped over the threshold a few days
ago, and have been living in Bonkersville ever
since. And since you are obviously still alive and
functioning, I think it’s obvious that the danger
has passed. Here’s the new truth: If you surrender
to the uproar, if you let it teach you all it has to
teach you, you will find a lively and intriguing
kind of peace.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): To give you
the oracle that best matches your current astrological omens, I’ve borrowed from “Sweetness,”
a poem by Stephen Dunn. I urge you to memorize
it or write it on a piece of paper that you will carry
around with you everywhere you go. Say Dunn’s
words as if they were your own: “Often a sweetness comes / as if on loan, stays just long enough
// to make sense of what it means to be alive, /
then returns to its dark / source. As for me, I don’t
care // where it’s been, or what bitter road / it’s
traveled / to come so far, to taste so good.”
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In her book
Teaching a Stone to Talk, Annie Dillard apologizes to God and Santa Claus and a nice but eccentric older woman named Miss White, whom
she knew as a child. “I am sorry I ran from you,”
she writes to them. “I am still running from that
knowledge, that eye, that love from which there is
no refuge. For you meant only love, and love, and
I felt only fear, and pain.” Judging from your current astrological omens, Capricorn, I’d say that
now would be a good time for you to do something similar: Take an inventory of the beauty and
love and power you have sought to escape and
may still be trying to avoid. You’re finally ready
to stop running and embrace at least some of that
good stuff.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The Dragon Lives
Again is a 1977 film that tells the story of martial
arts legend Bruce Lee fighting bad guys in the
underworld. Among the villains he defeats are
Dracula, James Bond, the Godfather, Clint Eastwood, and the Exorcist. I urge you to use this as
inspiration, Aquarius. Create an imaginary movie
in your mind’s eye. You’re the hero, of course.
Give yourself a few superpowers, and assemble
a cast of scoundrels from your past - anyone who
has done you wrong. Then watch the epic tale unfold as you do with them what Bruce Lee did to
Dracula and company. Yes, it’s only pretend. But
you may be surprised at how much this helps you
put your past behind you. Think of it as a purgative meditation that will free you to move in the
direction of the best possible future.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): After studying the
myths and stories of many cultures throughout
history, Joseph Campbell arrived at a few conclusions about the nature of the human quest. Here’s
one that’s apropos for you right now: “The cave
you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.” He
came up with several variations on this idea, including this one: “The very cave you are afraid to
enter turns out to be the source of what you are
looking for.” I urge you to consider making this
your operative hypothesis for the coming weeks,
Pisces.
Homework: Name ten personal possessions that
you’d put in a time capsule to be dug up by your
descendants in 500 years. Testify at Freewillastrology.com.
7
Thursday, October 3
AMERICAN LEGION POST 237, Karaoke
BANDITO SOUTHSIDE, Dave Anderson
BISON’S (MADISON), Karaoke w/ HitMaster D
BLUE PANTS BREWERY, 45 Surprise
DIAMONDS (SEE AD PG.10), Bike Night w/
Travis Posey
FRATERNAL ORDER OF EAGLES (DECATUR),
Karaoke
FURNITURE FACTORY, Bike Night w/
Live Music
GUADALAJARA (DECATUR), Karaoke w/
DJ Jammin Jeff
HICKORY HOUSE, Karaoke
HIGHWAY HAVEN, Karaoke
HOPPER’S, Karaoke w/ DJ Tara
HUMPHREY’S BAR &GRILL, Rick Taylor
KAFFEEKLATSCH BAR, Dave Anderson
KAMAMA GALLERY (MENTONE), Debbie
Bond duo with Rick Asherson
KNIGHT MOVES, Karaoke
KNUCKELHEADS, Tim Cannon
LONE GOOSE, Traci-Traci’s
Acoustic Communion
PARTNER’S BAR & GRILL, Karaoke
SAMMY T’S MUSIC HALL, Three Days Grace
SPORTS PAGE, 5ive O’clock Charlie
THE BRICK (DECATUR), Jason Speegle
THE DOCKS (SCOTTSBORO), Trey
THE STATION, Live Music/DJ/ Karaoke
THE STEM AND STEIN, Jonathan Laird
VILLAGE PIZZA (DOWNTOWN ATHENS),
Barry Kay
VOODOO LOUNGE, Open Mic
Friday, October 4
AMENDMENT XXI, DJ E-lyte
AMERICAN LEGION POST 176,
The Mersey Band
BANDITO SOUTHSIDE, Silverstreak
BISHOP’S EAST SIDE, Blue Handel Band
BLUE PANTS BREWERY, Robby Eichman
BROKEN CLOCK GASTROPUB,
Watters-Felts Project
CD’S BAR AND GRILL (MADISON), Karaoke w/
HitMaster D
COFFEETREE BOOKS & BREW (SEE AD PG.8),
Showcase Performer
COPPERTOP, Hall of the 2 Truths, Psycoholics,
and Carcarphonus
DIAMONDS (SEE AD PG.10), Black Label
EL HERRADURA, Edgar
Karaoke
HARD DOCK CAFE (DECATUR),
Chocolate Cracker
HOPPER’S, DJ T-Bop
HUMPHREY’S BAR &GRILL,
5ive O’clock Charlie
IMPROV, Furlough Fridays w/ Live Music
KNIGHT MOVES, Whiskey Straight
LEE ANN’S, Black Eyed Susan
LISA’S LOUNGE, Karaoke
LOWE MILL, Concert on the Dock w/ Loves It
MAC’S SPORTSBAR AND STEAKHOUSE
(ATHENS), Daniel Jones
MOODY MONDAYS, Karaoke
PARTNER’S BAR & GRILL, Karaoke w/ Lena /
Diamond Dolls
RUSH (DOWNSTAIRS), DJ Brandon Mac
SAMMY T’S MUSIC HALL, DJ Keibot and
DJ Blin
SPORTS PAGE, Steady Rollers
THE BRICK (DECATUR), Natchez Trace
THE BRICKHOUSE, Marge Loveday
THE FOYER, Splitting Atoms
THE STEM AND STEIN, Seducing Alice
VOODOO LOUNGE, Seducing Alice
Saturday, October 5
11TH FRAME (MADISON), Soundtrust
AMERICAN LEGION POST 176, The Mersey
Band/Karaoke
BANDITO SOUTHSIDE, Lisa Bustler
8
#100313102313
VOLUME 11 ISSUE 14
Open Mic Night
COPPERTOP, Local Orbit, Looksy, and Johnny
and the Black Frames
DIAMONDS (SEE AD PG.10), Bucked Up
ELK’S LODGE, Karaoke
FLYING MONKEY ARTS, The Great Book of
John with Shaheed & DJ Supreme
Square One Band
FRATERNAL ORDER OF EAGLES
(HUNTSVILLE), Tequila Falls
HARD DOCK CAFE (DECATUR), Groove
HIGHWAY HAVEN, Legend Band
HOPPER’S, The Emily Joseph Band (Formerly
w/ Rudy Mockabee)
HUMPHREY’S BAR &GRILL, Stone Anderson
IMPROV, Lindy Hop/Twickenham
Jazz Orchestra
LAS TROJAS, Edgar
LEE ANN’S, Hot Rod Otis
MAC’S SPORTSBAR AND STEAKHOUSE
(ATHENS), Trey Morgan and Matt Dog
Diamond Dolls
SAMMY T’S MUSIC HALL, Trapt
SPORTS PAGE, Blood River
THE BRICK (DECATUR), Seducing Alice
THE BRIDGE CAFÉ (GUNTERSVILLE),
Tim Cannon
THE STEM AND STEIN, Tom Cavendar
VOODOO LOUNGE, Kings Haze
Sunday, October 6
FLYING MONKEY ARTS, The Living Deads
Karaoke
KAFFEEKLATSCH BAR, Sunday Blues Jam
hosted by Freddy Earl and
the Blues Mercenaries
MELLOW MUSHROOM (DECATUR), Karaoke
w/ HitMaster D
VFW (DECATUR), Karaoke w/ HitMaster D
VOODOO LOUNGE, Karaoke w/
DJ Brandon Mac
Monday, October 7
BANDITO SOUTHSIDE, Robby Eichman
COPPERTOP, Karaoke with DJ Wes
FURNITURE FACTORY, Open Jam
SPORTS PAGE, Dave Anderson
VOODOO LOUNGE, Open DJ Night
Tuesday, October 8
BANDITO SOUTHSIDE, Josh Allison
BELOW THE RADAR, Matt Carroll
FURNITURE FACTORY, Karaoke w/ Lou Walker
KAFFEEKLATSCH BAR, Charlie Howell
LISA’S LOUNGE, Bike Night w/ Thad Co.
MAC’S SPORTSBAR (ATHENS),
Karaoke w/ Blondie
SPORTS PAGE, Chelvis and the Bean
THE STATION, Karaoke
VOODOO LOUNGE, Dave Anderson
Wednesday, October 9
3RD BASE GRILL, Tim Cannon
BANDITO SOUTHSIDE, Noel Webster
Songwriter’s Jam
DAWGHOUSE (MADISON), Karaoke w/
HitMaster D
HUMPHREY’S BAR &GRILL, Reese
IMPROV, Jazz Café and Poetry featuring Shelly
& the Uptown Jazz Band
KAFFEEKLATSCH BAR, Andrew Sharp
KNIGHT MOVES, Bike Night
LAS TROJAS, Edgar
MUSIC cont. on pg. 9
THE VALLEY PLANET
MUSIC cont. from pg. 8
LEE ANN’S, The Real Deal
PARTNER’S BAR & GRILL, Diamondettes w/
DJ Derek
RUSH (UPSTAIRS), DJ Doc Roc
SPORTSPAGE, Noel Webster
THE FOYER, Open Mic
Grant and Charles Show
VOODOO LOUNGE, Karaoke w/ Tongue Lash
Thursday, October 10
BLUE PANTS BREWERY, The Coronation
Jonathan & Tyler
Karaoke
Live Music
GUADALAJARA (DECATUR), Karaoke w/
DJ Jammin Jeff
Mississippi John Doude
LEE ANN’S, J.C. and D.J. B’s
Acoustic Communion
DJ Blin
THE BRICK (DECATUR), Grey Cauthen
Barry Kay
Friday, October 11
The Mersey Band
BANDITO SOUTHSIDE, Tangled String
BLUE PANTS BREWERY, The Mad Hatters
BROKEN CLOCK GASTROPUB, Marge Loveday
CD’S BAR AND GRILL (MADISON),
Karaoke w/ HitMaster D
Showcase Performer
DIAMONDS (SEE AD PG.10), Don Ray Band
EARTH FARE, Open Mic
EL HERRADURA, Edgar
EMMA’S TEA ROOM, Michelle Solari
Karaoke
FURNITURE FACTORY, Blue Handel Band
HARD DOCK CAFE (DECATUR), Kozmic Mama
HOPPER’S, Crush
HUMPHREY’S BAR &GRILL, 45 Surprise
LEE ANN’S, Groove
LOWE MILL, Concert on the Dock w/Amy
McCauley and Friends
MAC’S SPORTSBAR (ATHENS), Matt Prater
Diamond Dolls
PRINCESS THEATRE, Riders In The Sky
DJ Blin
SPORTS PAGE, Slade Sovereign
THE BRICK (DECATUR), Toy Shop
Tim Cannon
VOODOO LOUNGE, Dawn Osborne
THE VALLEY PLANET
#100313102313
Come join us for Food, Fun
Friends, Music and Beer!
at 3200 Leeman Ferry Rd.
(Beer provided by Straight to Ale. $5 a pint.)
The party starts at 6:00 on Oct. 12th.
Lots of great Silent Auction items
including original artwork and jewelry
by some of the area’s
leading artists.
Auction closes at 9:00.
You don’t have to be present to win.
All proceeds go to help the animals.
No More Homeless Pets
is our Goal.
www.SNAPonTap.com
Sponsored by
VOLUME 11 ISSUE 14
y
o
Black Crowes Concert at VBC, Huntsville on 9/24/13.
See more photos at valleyplanet.com.
Photo by Todd Powers.
9
Saturday, October 12
The Mersey Band/Karaoke
Open Mic Night
Square One Band
HARD DOCK CAFE (DECATUR), Mad Hatters
HOPPER’S, Crush
HUMPHREY’S BAR &GRILL, Bonnie Thompson
LAS TROJAS, Edgar
LEE ANN’S, Kozmic Mama
MAC’S SPORTSBAR (ATHENS), Daniel Jones
PARTNER’S BAR & GRILL, The Pride of Kings
DJ Blin
SPORTSPAGE, Kings Haze
THE BRICK (DECATUR), Whiskey River
THE BRICKHOUSE, Tim Cannon
VOODOO LOUNGE, Toy Shop
Sunday, October 13
Karaoke
KAFFEEKLATSCH BAR, Sunday Blues Jam
hosted by Freddy Earl and
the Blues Mercenaries
w/ HitMaster D
SPORTSPAGE, St. Jude’s Poker Run
DJ Brandon Mac
Monday, October 14
SPORTS PAGE, Dave Anderson
Tuesday, October 15
KAFFEEKLATSCH BAR, Marge Loveday
MAC’S SPORTSBAR (ATHENS), Karaoke w/
Blondie
SPORTSPAGE, Chelvis and the Bean
BANDITO SOUTHSIDE, Microwave Dave
Songwriter’s Jam
HitMaster D
HUMPHREY’S BAR &GRILL, Josh Carples/
Mike Slaten
LAS TROJAS, Edgar
DJ Derek
SPORTSPAGE, Gus Hergert
THE FOYER, Open Mic
BLUE PANTS BREWERY, Seducing Alice
Acoustic Set
DIAMONDS (SEE AD PG.10), Bike Night w/ Jeff
& Amanda
Karaoke
Live Music
GUADALAJARA (DECATUR), Karaoke w/ DJ
Jammin Jeff
HUMPHREY’S BAR &GRILL, Paul Edelman
KNUCKELHEADS, Blue Handel Band
LEE ANN’S, Otherside
Acoustic Communion
DJ Blin
STRAIGHT TO ALE, Brewjazz and Jam
THE BRICK (DECATUR), Tim Cannon
THE STEM AND STEIN, Alyssa Jaycee
VOODOO LOUNGE, Open Mic Night
Friday, October 18
The Mersey Band
BANDITO SOUTHSIDE, Marge Loveday
BLUE PANTS BREWERY, Seducing Alice
BROKEN CLOCK GASTROPUB, Point of Sizzle
HitMaster D
Showcase Performer
10
#100313102313
VOLUME 11 ISSUE 14
DIAMONDS (SEE AD PG.10), Travis Posey Band
EL HERRADURA, Edgar
Karaoke
HARD DOCK CAFE (DECATUR),
Black Eyed Susan
HOPPER’S, Groove
Chinese Connection
LEE ANN’S, UnderCover
LOWE MILL, Brotha Ric and the
Chicken Bone Reunion
MAC’S SPORTSBAR (ATHENS), Alton Thrasher
Diamond Dolls
DJ Blin
SPORTS PAGE, Old Electric
THE BRICK (DECATUR), Group 6
Tim Cannon
THE STATION, 7’ Clearance/ DJ/ Live Music
VOODOO LOUNGE, 5ive O’clock Charlie
Band/Karaoke
BANDITO BURRITO (MADISON), Blackbird
BANDITO SOUTHSIDE, Noel Webster
BROKEN CLOCK GASTROPUB, Lamar Phillips/
Dakota Wright
Open Mic Night
Square One Band
FURNITURE FACTORY, The John King Band
HOPPER’S, Groove
HUMPHREY’S BAR &GRILL, Festival Expression
LAS TROJAS, Edgar
LEE ANN’S, Big Daddy Kingfish
LONE GOOSE, Marge Loveday
PARTNER’S BAR & GRILL, Ladies of Disillusion
DJ Blin
SPORTS PAGE, Pink Daisy Project
STRAIGHT TO ALE,
Music Has A Meaning Benefit
THE BRICK (DECATUR), Chocolate Cracker
THE STEM AND STEIN, Tim Cannon
VOODOO LOUNGE, Mississippi John Doude
Sunday, October 20
Karaoke
KAFFEEKLATSCH BAR, Sunday Blues
Jam hosted by Freddy Earl and the Blues
Mercenaries
SPORTSPAGE, Noel Webster
DJ Brandon Mac
Monday, October 21
w/ HitMaster D
SPORTSPAGE, Dave Anderson
Tuesday, October 22
THE VALLEY PLANET
KAFFEEKLATSCH BAR, Charlie Howell
LEE ANN’S, J.C. and D.J. B’s
MAC’S SPORTSBAR (ATHENS),
Karaoke w/ Blondie
SPORTS PAGE, Chelvis and the Bean
BANDITO SOUTHSIDE, Microwave Dave
Songwriter’s Jam
HitMaster D
HUMPHREY’S BAR &GRILL, Mike Roberts
LAS TROJAS, Edgar
DJ Derek
SPORTS PAGE, Marsha Morgan
THE FOYER, Open Mic
Shannon Hubbard
Karaoke
GUADALAJARA (DECATUR), Karaoke w/ DJ
Jammin Jeff
HUMPHREY’S BAR &GRILL, Writers Round
KNUCKELHEADS, Tim Cannon
LEE ANN’S, Blue Handel Band
LONE GOOSE, Traci-Traci’s Acoustic
Communion
ROCK HOUSE EATERY (GUNTERSVILLE),
Debbie Bond Trio
DJ Blin
THE BRICK (DECATUR), Josh Allison
Barry Kay
Friday, October 25
The Mersey Band
BANDITO SOUTHSIDE, Scott Morgan
BISHOP’S EAST SIDE, Hot Rod Otis
BLUE PANTS BREWERY, Old Electric
HitMaster D
Showcase Performer
DIAMONDS (SEE AD PG.10), Angry Native
EL HERRADURA, Edgar
EMMA’S TEA ROOM, Jordan Lee Herrera/
Randy Lee
Karaoke
HARD DOCK CAFE (DECATUR), 7’ Clearance
HOPPER’S, The Breakers
THE VALLEY PLANET
HUMPHREY’S BAR &GRILL, Brotha Ric and the
Chicken Bone Reunion
KNUCKELHEADS, Chopdaddy
LOWE MILL, Concert on the Dock w/ Tangled
String Band and Liquid Caravan
Diamond Dolls
DJ Blin
SPORTS PAGE, Dizzytrip
THE BRICK (DECATUR), Rollin in the Hay
THE FOYER, Emma Klein/ Matt Morrow
THE STATION, Black Eyed Susan/DJ/ Karaoke
THE STEM AND STEIN, Jonathan Laird
VOODOO LOUNGE, 45 Surprise
Band/Karaoke
BANDITO SOUTHSIDE, Bourbon & Shamrocks
BRIDGESTREET, Emma Klein
BROKEN CLOCK GASTROPUB, Marge Loveday
Open Mic Night
DIAMONDS (SEE AD PG.10), Halloween Party
w/ Spellbinder
Square One Band
FURNITURE FACTORY, Crush
HOPPER’S, The Breakers
HUMPHREY’S BAR &GRILL, Johnny Neel
LAS TROJAS, Edgar
LEE ANN’S, Tom Cat and Bark the Dog
Diamond Dolls
PLAMOR LANES, Kozmic Mama
DJ Blin
SPORTS PAGE, Josh Hill
STRAIGHT TO ALE, Walker Street Opry Band
THE BRICK (DECATUR), Black Label
THE STEM AND STEIN, Alyssa Jaycee
Sunday, October 27
Karaoke
KAFFEEKLATSCH BAR, Sunday Blues
Jam hosted by Freddy Earl and the Blues
Mercenaries
SPORTSPAGE, Gus Hergert
DJ Brandon Mac
THE END!
#100313102313
VOLUME 11 ISSUE 14
11
REGIONAL CONCERTS
ATLANTA
October 4, Brian Wilson & Jeff Beck, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
October 8, fun. Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
October 12, Kid Cudi, Masquerade
October 13, Dwight Yoakham, Buckhead Theatre
October 15, Aaron Carter, Buckhead Theatre
October 17, Atlas Genius, Centre Stage Theatre
October 17, Hunter Hays, Fox Theatre Atlanta
October 19, Rod Stewart, Phillips Arena
October 26, Selena Gomez, Phillips Arena
October 26, Sister Hazel, Centre Stage Theatre
BIRMINGHAM
October 10, America’s Got Talent, BJCC Concert Hall
October 12, Chris Tomlin and Louie Giglio, BJCC Arena
October 12, Tailgate for a Reason, Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
HUNTSVILLE
October 4, Jim Parker’s Songwriters Showcase, VBC Playhouse
October 6, Tracy Lawrence, VBC Arena
October 11, Rascal Flatts and The Band Perry, VBC Arena
October 12, Brian Regan, VBC Concert Hall
October 19, Don Williams, VBC Concert Hall
October 23, John Fogerty, VBC Arena
MEMPHIS
October 4, K97 Power Bash Featuring Chris Brown, Fed Ex Forum
October 8, The Lumineers, Mud Island Amphitheatre
October 11, America’s Got Talent, Orpheum Theatre
October 14, The Eagles, Fed Ex Forum
October 24, Jason Aldean, Fed Ex Forum
October 26, Prairie Home Companion, Orpheum Theatre
NASHVILLE
October 2, Jack Johnson, Ryman Auditorium
October 7, Vampire Weekend, Ryman Auditorium
October 12-14, The Lumineers, Ryman Auditorium
October 13, Kid Cudi w/ Big Sean & Logic, Bridgestone Arena
October 16, The Eagles, Bridgestone Arena
October 18, Luke Bryan Florida Georgia Line, Thompson Square, Bridgestone Arena
October 18 – 19 Hunter Hays, Ryman Auditorium
October 19, Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, Bridgestone Arena
October 20, Air Supply, Wildhorse Saloon
October 22, Nine Inch Nail, Godspeed You and Black Emperor, Bridgestone Arena
October 23, Michael Buble’, Bridgestone Arena
October 25, Selena Gomez, Bridgestone Arena
TUSCALOOSA
October 6, R. Kelly, Tuscaloosa Amphitheatre
October 9, The Lumineers, Tuscaloosa Amphitheatre
October 10, Rascal Flats and The Band Perry, Tuscaloosa Amphitheatre
October 17, The Beach Boys, Tuscaloosa Amphitheatre
October 24, Willie Nelson, Tuscaloosa Amphitheatre
12
#100313102313
VOLUME 11 ISSUE 14
THE VALLEY PLANET
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Thursday, October 3
Tate Farms Cotton Pickin’ Pumpkins, located at
8414 – A Moores Mill Road in Meridianville is now
open through October 31st. There is an admission
charge. 256-828-8288.
The Mountain Valley Arts Council will have the
exhibit the Art of Dianne Rains Barnett and
the Art of Ed Williams on display now through
November 30th. 256-571-7199.
Lyons Family Farms is now open for pumpkin
picking season. It is located at 130 Beleview
Road, Taft TN. It is open Wednesday – Sunday.
www.lyonfamilyfarms.com
The Carnegie Visual Arts Center will have the
exhibit the Earth Vessels: Works of Clay. It will
feature works by Alabama artists Steve Loucks,
Larry Percy, and Guadalupe Robinson.
256-341-0562.
31st. The Wade Warton Exhibit is also open now.
www.hsbbg.org.
The Mircea Lacatus Exhibit, the Sallie Estes &
Maria West Exhibit, the Lenore Corey Show
Exhibit are on display at Lowe Mill. Admission is
free. www.lowemill.net.
Nativity Green Street Market will be every
Thursday at 4pm, on the corner of Green Street
and Eustis Street through October.
The Scarecrow Trail & Enchanted Forest will be
at the Huntsville Botanical Gardens through
October. This year’s theme for scarecrows & hay
bale art is television shows.
www.hsvbg.org.
October 3 – 7
Discover life-size replicas of Columbus’s ships the
Pinta & the Maria at Ditto Landing daily from
9am – 6pm. 787-672-2152.
October 3 – 6
The Whole Backstage in Guntersville will have
the play, Mister Roberts at 1120 Gunter Avenue.
www.wholebackstage.com, 256-582-7469.
Friday, October 4
The Veterans of America Night will be every
Friday night at Knuckleheads in Madison from 6
– 10pm.
The AVOCrew presents The Ultimate Friday Night
AAMU Homecoming Experience with Fifteen in
the Omega Multipurpose Center at 181 Import
Circle. Doors open at 10pm.
256-721-1600.
Art with a Twist will be at the Huntsville Museum
of Art from 5:30 – 8:30pm.
www.hsvmuseum.org.
The Red String Wayang Theatre “Struggle for
Justice” (an hour long puppet show), will be from
8 – 9pm. Admission is $8. It will be in the Flying
Monkey Theatre.
www.flyingmonkeyarts.org.
The Village of Promise will have Marian Wright
Edelman, the founder of the Children’s Defense
Fund and an Early Social Activist with a Special
Focus on Children, to Huntsville. It will be at the
VBC.
Duos and Solos Square Dance Club will be
offering lessons to couples and singles every
Thursday at the Tom Bevill Enrichment Center,
115 Main Street W in Rainsville, AL. Classes will be
from 6:30 – 9 pm. www.duosandsolos.com.
There will be a Camp Out in the Garden from 5pm
until 8am Saturday at the Huntsville Botanical
Gardens. Please bring your own sleeping bags,
tents & flashlights.
www.hsvbg.org.
The Libra Pink Passion Party will be at the Atrium
at Main Street South and is presented by KeLaChe’
Marketing.
http://huntsvilleurbannetwork.com.
Pickin’ & Grinnin’ will be in Ardmore every
Thursday night at 6:30pm at the Ardmore TN
Annex Building. 256-423-7588.
The Friday Night Artist Market will be from 5
– 8pm at the Flying Monkey Arts. Admission is
free. There will be art, jewelry, vintage clothing,
and much more. Free.
Paul Barrere and Fred Tackett will be at
Merrimack Hall Performing Arts at 7:30pm.
www.merrimackhall.com, 256-534-6455.
Sips & Sounds will be at Nichols Arbor at the
Huntsville Botanical Gardens every Thursday
through November 7th from 6 – 8pm. Each event
will feature a wine tasting with entertainment.
www.hsvbg.org.
The Huntsville Museum of Art will have the exhibit
People Places and Things through October 13,
2013. www.hsvmuseum.org.
The Giant Garden Little Me Exhibit will be at the
Huntsville Botanical Gardens through December
THE VALLEY PLANET
The Way We Worked Smithsonian Exhibit will be
at the Museum on Main Street in Red Bay, AL on
exhibit now through October 25th.
Lowe Mill will have a class, 3D Composition with
Mircea Lacatus (clay or stone), from 6 – 8pm.
The admission is $300. The class will meet every
Thursday October 3rd – November 21st.
www.lowemill.net.
The Wild and Scenic Film Festival will be at the
Flying Monkey Theatre from 6 – 9pm. Admission
is $10. There is a student discount for $5, and
children under 12 get in free.
www.AlabmaRivers.org/events/wildandscenic.
#100313102313
There will be a Comic science Improv, Acting Up,
at The Academy of Dramatic Arts, located at
8402 Whitesburg Drive. It will be at 7pm. 256-6557540.
The 15th Annual Terror in Trenton, presented
by The Evil House of Horrors, will be open every
weekend in October and October 31st and
November 1st. It will be at the Valley 2 Volunteer
Fire Department, 70 County Road 252, Trenton,
AL. The cost is $15 per person.
There will be a Madison Ghost Walk starting at
Bandito Burrito in Madison at 6pm. There is an
admission charge. 256-509-3940.
VOLUME 11 ISSUE 14
Jim Parker’s Songwriters Series will be at the VBC
Playhouse at 6:30pm. It will feature “Grammy
Man” Gary Nicholson, Seller Pam Rose, Colin
Linden and special guest Luke Nicholson. www.
JimParkerMusic.com.
Asperger Connection presents the 4th Annual
Poker Run Motorcycle Ride, a fundraiser
benefiting young adults in North Alabama with
High Functioning Autism and Asperger Syndrome.
The event begins at 11am at Diamonds Sports Bar
and ends at Diamonds. www.aspergerconnection.
org, [email protected].
The Symphony Classical Series: McDuffie Plays
Bernstein will be at the VBC Concert Hall at
7:30pm. 256-539-4818.
Monkey Speak will be at the Flying Monkey
from 8-11pm. Admission is $5. It is an open-mic
night, an open stage for anyone to read perform or
improvise poetry drama or prose or any variation
of the spoken word. No experience is necessary.
Mature audiences only.
October 4 – 5
The Play: Bloodless: The Lizzie Borden Mystery
will be at the Historic Lowry House Friday at 7pm
and Saturday at 2:30pm.
256-489-9200.
The 47th Annual Fiddlers Convention will be this
weekend in downtown Athens.
www.athens.edu/fiddler.
October 4 – 6
Independent Musical Productions presents Les
Misérables at Lee High’s Main Stage Theater,
2500 Meridian Street. Performance times will
be Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm and Sunday at
2:30pm. Tickets are $25 for Adults and Students/
Senior/Military $23, Children under 12 $15
www.imphuntsville.org. (See ad pg.12)
Saturday, October 5
The Madison City Farmers Market will be from
8am until noon at 1282 Hughes Road in Madison,
Alabama. It will be every Saturday. 256-656-7841.
Wheeler National Refuge Celebrates the 75th
Anniversary from 9 am until 5pm. It will be a day
events cont. on pg. 14
13
events cont. from pg. 13
filled with nature hikes, programs, and games.
www.friendsofwheelerrefuge.org.
A New Leash on Life will have dogs and cats
available for adoption every Saturday from 12
– 4pm at Pet Smart on Carl T. Jones.
www.anewleash.org.
There will be a Free Fall Walking Tour in 5pts
beginning at Maple Hill Cemetery at 10am.
There will be a Planetarium Show every Saturday
night at 7:30pm at the Planetarium.
www.vbas.org.
The eighth season of the Metropolitan Opera’s
Peabody and Emmy Award-winning series The
Met: will be live in HD at Regal’s Hollywood 18.
The broadcast of Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin
will be presented live at 11:55am followed by an
encore presentation on October 9th at 6:30pm.
The Artist Market will be from 12 – 4pm. Admission
is free. There will be art, jewelry, vintage clothing,
and much more. It will be at the Flying Monkey
Arts and will be every Saturday.
The Huntsville Ghost Walk will be tonight at
6pm leaving from Harrison Brothers Hardware
in downtown Huntsville. It will be every Saturday
through October. There will also be a Ghost Trolley
Tour starting at 6pm. 256-509-3940.
There will be a Contra Dance in the gym of Faith
Presbyterian Church at the corner of Airport
and Whitesburg Drive. There will be live music by
Whistlin’ Rufus and calling by Doug Singleton. It
is from 7:30pm until 10:30pm. Lessons begin at
7pm. Admission is $7 and $4 for students. Children
under 12 are free. 256-837-0656,
www.secontra.com/NACDS.html.
The Alabama A&M Homecoming Game vs.
Mississippi Valley State will be at
Louis Crews Stadium at 1pm.
The Madison Street Festival will be on Main
Street in Madison. There will be a Kids Zone, Live
Music, a Car Show, Birds of Prey Show, and street
performers at every corner. It will be from 8:30am
until 4pm. Free.
There will be a Free Five Points Historic District
Walking Tour beginning at the corner of Wells
and Maple Hill Drive. 256-533-5723.
There will be a Jessica Patmon Painting Demo
from 12 – 4pm. Jessica will be painting live in the
1st Floor East Micro Gallery of Lowe Mill. Free.
www.lowemill.net.
Red String Wayang Theatre for Young People
presents, “Red Riding Hood” and” Hansel and
Gretel” shadow puppet works from 1 - 3pm in the
Flying Monkey Theatre. 256-479-7863.
The Huntsville Plastic Modelers’ Society 36th
Annual Model show will be from 8am – 4pm at
the Jaycee Community Building. Free. 256-8377293.
The North Alabama Scottish Festival & Highland
Games will be at Sharon Johnston Park from 9am
– 4:30pm. There will be athletic competitions, food,
music, dances and a pet parade. 256-883-0665.
World Hoop Day will be at Lowe Mill from 3
– 6pm. Free. www.lowemill.net.
Parents Night Out will be at Sci-Quest Hands on
Science Museum from 6 – 10pm.
www.sci-quest.org.
Sunday, October 6
The Huntsville Feminist Chorus joins the Arts
Council in celebrating Arts & Humanities month
with a concert of songs of peace and freedom at
the Huntsville-Madison county Public Library
from 2 to 3 pm. 256-539-0723. Free.
www.hmcpl.org.
Monday, October 7
There will be Pickin’ & Grinnin’ at Elkmont Depot
every Monday night at 6:30pm at the 256-4237588.
Your Yoga with Casey Beginner’s Class will be
in Studio 258 at Lowe Mill every Monday from 6
– 7pm. The cost is $14 per session or $45 for a 4
class pack.
www.lowemill.net, [email protected].
Small Business Lunch & Learn: an advanced
presentation on WordPress for small businesses
will be at noon at the main Huntsville-Madison
County Public Library. Free.
256-532-5975, www.hmcpl.org.
Library Fright Night will be at 6pm at the
Huntsville-Madison County Public Library.
There will be a different horror film each Monday
night in October. Free.
256-532-5975, www.hmcpl.org.
October 7 – 11
The Princess Theatre will be celebration 30 Years
with a weeklong celebration. There will be
different activities and performances all week long.
www.princesstheatre.org,
256-350-2304.
Tuesday, October 8
West Coast Swing will be at Club Rush downtown
at 7pm with a lesson followed by open dancing
until 10pm.
Gee’s Place will have Line Dance class every
Tuesday from 6 – 8pm. The cost is $5.00.
The Dance Club presents Ballroom Dancing
every Tuesday night at Rollertime Skating Rink,
707 Arcadia Circle. Free dance lessons begin at
7:30pm. Dancing continues until 10:15pm. The
cost is $7 for regular and $4 for students. 256-8807636, dancehsv.home.mindspring.com.
Every Wednesday there will be a Bike Ride at
5:30pm starting at Bicycles Etc. It is usually 27
miles with significant climbing and a fast pace.
www.bicyclesetc.us.
The Elkmont Library (Depot) will have Storytime
every Wednesday from 10 – 11am. 256-732-3703.
Comedy Open Mic Night will be at Copper Top,
200 Oakwood Avenue, and every
Wednesday night.
Salserblanko will be having Salsa Night at Fubar
Night Club. Admission is $3 and is from 7:30 10:30pm. www.alabamasalsa.com.
Dixie Scrabblers will be meeting every Wednesday
from 6 - 8pm to play social Scrabble. Please check
facebook page for location.
October 9 – 13
The Play, Spoon Lake Blues will be at UAH’s
Morton Hall in Studio 106 at 7:30pm.
Tickets are $12 and $6 for students and
seniors. www.uah.edu/la/departments/
theatre/2013-season.
Thursday Night Swing will be in the
Flying Monkey Theatre from 6:30 – 10pm.
Admission is $5. Beginner and intermediate
lessons are from 6:30 – 7:30pm followed by
open dancing. August lessons are Intro to
Blues Dancing and intermediate Lindy Flash.
www.huntsvilleswing.com.
There will be a Free Percussion Clinic
featuring Remo’s director of education,
Johnny Lee Lane at 7pm at 1800 Jordan
Lane in Huntsville.
www.huntsvillecommunitydrumline.com,
256-430-5566.
There will be a Geeks’ Night Out - Wearable
Electronics at Sci-Quest from 6 – 8:30pm.
www.sci-quest.org.
An Evening with Robert Inman, author of the
new novel “The Governor’s Lady,” will be at 7pm
in the auditorium of main Huntsville-Madison
County Public Library. Free. www.hmcpl.org.
The Tennessee Valley Civil War Round Table will
be with Pat Tumminello, local historian and author,
“The Civil War and Reconstruction in Huntsville
from a Different
Perspective,” will be at the Elk’s Lodge at 6:30pm.
Free. 256-541-2483.
The Beloved Book Club will meet from 6:30
– 7:30pm in Studio 273/Beloved Books & Gallery,
Flying Monkey Arts. Free.
The Madison County Volunteer Lawyers Program
will host a craft beer festival entitled Pro Bono
Brews from 6 – 10pm at A.M. Booth’s Lumberyard.
The event is designed to celebrate Alabama’s craft
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VOLUME 11 ISSUE 14
THE VALLEY PLANET
Instincts
ne Sunday morning, I woke suddenly after a terrifying dream. My house caught fire and I
had moments to get the important things out safely. I filled a laundry basket with panties,
electronics and their power cords, and the dogs. We made it out just in the nick of time. I
awoke before the house was completely destroyed. After I sat up suddenly, a voice inside me said, “Get
out of bed and go for a run.” Without pause, I dressed and logged three miles before the majority of
the neighborhood was awake. As I pounded the pavement, the dream continued to replay in my mind.
I am a girl who most always wears panties, so it was no surprise I grabbed all I could before the fire
took them. The electronics are also a no brainer. All my photos, columns and friends live inside them.
Finally the dogs. Absolutely they’d be the first things I’d save in a life-threatening situation.
Two weeks later another dream woke me from a dead sleep. I had just returned to the house and a girl
was sitting on the front steps. I walked in to discover that the house’s contents were gone. The girl,
clearly not a friend, let thieves in to steal everything – including my panties and electronics. The kicker
was that they also took my car, which has tons of locator and security features. I started tracking the
car and within hours, they’d made it to Mexico and then to the Northeast. All the security features kept
failing. I worked diligently to program the car to stop; it wouldn’t. When the stranger told me she let
the thieves take everything, I went crazy on her, beating the crap out of her. That’s when I awoke.
Years before I moved to the beach, many dreams filled my sleep. I would make it just so close and then
a magical power would deter me, sending me back to the Tennessee Valley. The dreams stopped when
I lived there and have now returned in a new form. In more recent dreams, I am forced back to the Gulf
due to an urgent matter: friends in need, another crisis, and dishes left at the apartment.
When I step back and look at these dreams, I can’t help but tie together a common theme: losing
everything in a terribly unfortunate way but being drawn backwards. In some way, I’m about to lose
everything and go back to a place I love. In the dreams, I follow my emotional instincts to be safe and
defend myself. If you were to lose everything in the blink of an eye, how would you react? Would
you flee safely with your loved ones in tow? Would you turn violent and hurt those who brought on
the tragedy? Would you simply walk away from an enduring passion knowing you’ll never be able to
return?
I sit in my lovely living room, complete with matching end tables and a smartly coordinated rug,
imagining a fire tearing through or walking in after a thief had their way with my belongings. How
much of all this stuff does one really need? And because it all needs such care and attention given, why
do we want it? What is really worth dusting or packing? A mirror from my grandmother hangs on the
wall above me. It came to me upon her passing. I love my furniture for its comfort. The television
is nice enough. But, if I had to walk away from it all, could I? If it was all taken away, would that be
the end of me?
Absolutely not. It would be difficult to restart, but not impossible. You see the most treasured items
live inside my heart and mind. My memories – the good, bad and ugly – are the fiber of my being. The
family I love – including my dogs – will walk (and wine) me through recovery. I’d be sad, terribly sad.
But it’ll all work out. At least this is what my (rarely wrong) instincts are telling me.
O
Venice Pizza
by Amanda Conger
W
hen asked to name a favorite food,
my husband will often select pizza.
Which is why one of our first restaurant
adventures in Huntsville involved driving 40
minutes across town for pizza a coworker had
sworn was “the best pizza ever”. It wasn’t, but we
kept looking. We finally found pizza-y perfection
at Venice Pizza. Since that original visit, I’ve
taken great delight in introducing others to not
only their pizzas, but their calzones.
Why I love it: The food is consistently delicious
and they deliver! With a reasonable minimum
($9) and a credit swipe the delivery person can
carry with them, it really doesn’t get any easier
than this.
When it shines: Venice is a great choice for
feeding hungry hordes. The delivery option is
convenient and with an expansive menu (pizza,
calzones, stromboli, sandwiches, gyros...),
everyone should be able to find something they
like. The prices are reasonable and the portions
huge (a “small” calzone will take up 90% of a
standard paper plate). If you wish to eat in, their
storefront includes a small dining area and a
couple of outdoor tables.
crusts, settling at the perfect point. A flavorful
marinara sauce and fresh ingredients completes
a combination that will leave you wishing only
for more stomach space. If you find yourself
casting about for something sweet to balance the
salty, savory entrees, the tiramisu is surprisingly
nuanced.
Where to find them:
Venice Pizza
6610 Old Madison Pike NW
Huntsville, Alabama 35806
(256) 270-8584
http://www.venicehuntsville.webs.com/
Hours:
Mon –Fri: 10:00 am - 11:00 pm
Sat: 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Sun: 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Amanda Conger is on a mission to explore
Huntsville...one bite at a time. Read her reviews
of local restaurants at
http://thediningdragon.com.
What not to miss: The calzones are what have
stolen my heart. Stuffed full to brimming with
ricotta, mozzarella and your choice of toppings,
they are an ode to cheese, bread, and all that is
good. Their basil is stunningly fresh and their
sausage is sliced Italian sausage, not ground.
If you are a pizza purist like my husband, the
pizza deftly balances between thin and thick
THE VALLEY PLANET
#100313102313
W
elcome to the Jazz Lounge. This session
will take us back to the contemporary
side of jazz. Saxophonist Steve Cole,
one of the most celebrated players in contemporary
jazz, has a new release out – Pulse.
This Chicago native, who was classically trained,
followed in his father’s footsteps with the clarinet
before switching to the saxophone in high school.
While at Northwestern University, he studied
classical saxophone before changing his field to
economics, eventually earning an MBA from The
University of Chicago. After leaving school, he
returned his focus to music – in particular – jazz.
Steve exploded onto the scene in 1998 with the
album Stay Awhile, which was produced by
fellow Chicagoan Brian Culbertson. It scored two
#1 hits, and earned Steve the ‘Prism Award for
Best New Artist’ at the Oasis Smooth Jazz Awards
shortly before his sophomore set, Between Us,
which was released in 2000. His catchy singles
made him an instant radio favorite, and he
cranked them out with regularity on subsequent
albums including: NY LA (2003), Spin (2005),
True (2006), The Sax Pack (2008), The Pack Is
Back (2009), and Moonlight (2011).
In addition to Steve Cole’s work as a solo
artist, Steve has performed/recorded with
Boz Scaggs, Freddie Cole, Larry Carlton, Jeff
Lorber, Jim Peterik, Peter White, Rick Braun,
Brian Culbertson, Buddy Guy, Cyrus Chestnut,
and more. He has been a featured soloist with
the City of Prague Orchestra, and The Chicago
Symphony Orchestra. (He was also a winner of
the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s annual young
artist competition, allowing him the honor of
performing with the orchestra.)
As a young musician, Steve Cole’s first pivotal gig
came at the side of Richard Patterson, who was
the bass player in Miles Davis’ band. According
so Steve, “Playing with Richard Patterson, who
had just come from playing with Miles Davis,
taught me to push myself - to reach far beyond
what I thought possible”. Today, Steve tours as a
headliner, and for the past 10 years as a member
of The Sax Pack - a stellar sax trio completed
by Marcus Anderson and Jeff Kashiwa. He is a
founding member of this group.
In the 15 years since the release of his debut
album, Steve has traveled full-circle creatively
and arrived back
home with his
latest release
– Pulse. This 10song set mixes R
& B, contemporary
jazz, gospel,
blues, and pop.
The collection
surveying Steve’s
musical passions
showcases
his affinity
for infectious
melodies, a wall of
horns, and soulful
grooves.
collaborating with David since the
album Between Us. He says, “It’s very natural
working with David and we make a great team.
He is great at writing and arranging horn section
parts and there’s a lot of that on Pulse. We both
respect each other so much. David creates lovely
textures, colors and countermelodies. He weaves
these beautiful fabrics throughout the track and
has a unique ability to get inside the song”.
Pulse has lots to offer the listener. The title
track has plenty of horns and a funky mid-tempo
groove. Steve composed this one with 19-yearold smooth jazz keyboardist, producer, and writer
Nicholas Cole – one of the rising stars in smooth
jazz today.
Do Your Thing recalls the late 1960s and 70s.
Steve says, “I’m a big Curtis Mayfield fan and
this is another wall of horns track that is fun from
the start. I could play it for hours”.
Steve always wanted to record the soul classic
Going In Circles, which he used to play in
Chicago clubs. Nicki Richards contributes the
backing vocals on this one.
Regarding the chill groove Maximum Cool Steve
says, “I love the vibe of it. Recording it was an
interesting challenge because there are so many
different ways to go with the harmony.”
With a title inspired by R & B group Mint Condition,
Steve’s lively sax sparks the flavor on Minty Fresh.
Guitarist Rico McFarland provides the vocals on
Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City. “I’m a
Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland fan and I had been dying to
record it”, says Steve.
The retro riff on Believe offers a gospel jazz
confirmation reminiscent of the 70s. Ricky
Peterson, who Steve has worked with for years, is
on the Hammond B-3 organ here as well as most
of the other tracks.
Authenticity is important to Steve Cole. Pulse
represents what he calls a “return to the basics”.
Long-time fans and those about to discover the
works of this accomplished musician/songwriter/
producer will find a bounty to feast upon. The
album is teeming with potential radio favorites
and crowd pleasers. The album’s first radio single,
With You all The Way, is currently being aired on
WJAB 90.9 FM
here in Huntsville,
Alabama.
Steve produced
Pulse with fellow
sax man David
Mann, who plays
horn section saxes,
keyboards, flute,
synth bass and
programming on
the album. They
also co-wrote
most of the songs.
Steve has been
VOLUME 11 ISSUE 14
I’ve always
enjoyed Steve’s
work, and glad
he’s back with
this new release.
You should check
this one out, and
consider adding it
to your collection.
That’s it for this
session of the
Jazz Lounge. I
can be reached at:
teekynyc@yahoo.
com.
Until next time,
stay cool, & keep
it jazzy!
15
beer industry and is supported by Free the Hops, a
grassroots group that has had tremendous success
promoting the industry. Advanced tickets are
$30 per person or $50 per couple. Tickets will be
available at the door for $35. www.probonobrews.
com, 256-539-2275.
October 10 – 11
The Water Walker Ministries presents Doing
Business Successfully Entrepreneurial Toolkit at
the Jackson Center at Research Park. michelda@
waterwalkerministries.com.
October 10 – 12
Private Gallery will be in Huntsville Thursday from
9 am - 7pm, Friday 9am – 6pm and Saturday 8am
– 2pm. There will be a huge selection of clothing,
accessories, and jewelry. It will be at the old Pool
Place, located at 1435 Paramount Circle. (See ad
pg.12)
October 10 – 13
There will be an Outreach and Worship Event on
Lookout Mountain. The Courage is a free worship
concert featuring dozens of Christian Bands, Artists
and Speakers. It will be at Twilley Fields Event
Grounds located at 13675 Alabama Hwy 176.
www.thecourage.org.
Friday, October 11
The Princess Theatre’s 30th Year Celebration will
feature Riders in the Sky at 7pm. There will also
be a children’s event, Round Up at the Kids Corral
at 4:30pm. www.princesstheatre.org.
The Kimberley Falls Jones Foundation Event
for Breast Cancer Survivors will be at the
Huntsville Marriott at 7pm. The cost is $30. www.
kfjfoundation.com.
Rascal Flatts w/ The Band Perry will be at the VBC
Propst Arena at 7pm.
York Rite 4th annual Masquerade Ball will be at
the Omega Center, 181 Import Circle at 8pm.
Ticket in advance is $25 and $35 at the door. www.
urbannetwork.com.
The Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment will have
Mill Wide Receptions from 6 – 8pm.
Enjoy
refreshments and an opportunity to meet the
Artists. Free and open to the public.
www.lowemill.net.
The Alabama Burlesque Festival will be from 8
– 11pm at the Flying Monkey Theatre.
www.alabamaburlesque.eventbrite.com.
October 11 – 12
The play, Someone to Love Me, will be at
Oakwood University Friday at 8pm. It will also be
on Saturday at the New Life SDA Church, located at
4906 Blue Springs Road in Huntsville at 7pm.www.
pmefoundation.com,
256-682-2720.
October 11 – 13
2500 Meridian Street. Performance times will
be Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm and Sunday at
Fantasy Playhouse presents the show Peter Pan,
Boy Who Would Not Grow Up on Friday and
Saturday at 7pm and Sunday at 1:30pm and 5pm
at the VBC Playhouse. Tickets are $15.
www.fantasyplayhouse.com, 256-539-6829.
The 2013 Redstone Rumble is a multiple day table
top gaming event primarily featuring the systems
from Games Workshop. It will be in the First Floor
Connector at Lowe Mill.
www.Redstone-Rumble.com.
There will be a Fanfare Quilt Show at the VBC
East Hall. This is a judged show with over 250
quilts. The show includes a raffle quilt, vendors,
bed turning & quilting demonstrations
256-683-8832.
The Gem & Mineral Show will be at the VBC East
Hall this weekend. 256-880-0623.
Snap on Tap will be held at Straight to Ale at
6pm. There will be live music with Microwave
Dave, food, silent auction and more. All proceeds
benefit the Spay Neuter Action Project (SNAP),
a 501(c) (3) organization that serves Madison
County, Alabama. Tickets are $20 at the door or $15
in advance. http://snapontap.com.
(See ad pg.19)
The Punkin Pickin Run will be at the North
Alabama Railroad Museum, 694 Chase Road in
Huntsville. 256-683-7953.
The Murphy Writers’ Group will meet at 3pm
at the Eleanor E. Murphy Library. The Murphy
Writers’ Group is open to writers of all genres and
skill levels, ages 14 and older;
[email protected], 256-881-5620.
The Eagles Nest Ministries presents the Bishop’s
Cup Golf Tournament at Robert Trent Jones
Golf Course. Registration is at 7am and Modified
Shotgun starts at 8am. 256-851-1788.
There will be a Rendezvous at the Rim and Half
Marathon will be offering a day of guided hikes, live
music, and other fun centered on nature. The Little
River Canyon Marathon will begin at 8am. There
will be other events throughout the day. Admission
is free. www.DiscoverLookoutMountatin.com.
There will be a Free Fall Walking Tour in Historic
Huntsville. The tour begins at 122 Walker Avenue
in downtown Huntsville at 10am.
There will be a Grand Opening of Belle Chevre
Creamery in Elkmont, Alabama from 11am until
4pm. There will be special guests, Southern Living
Magazine, food, entertainment, goats and more.
Admission is $5. 404-423-0104.
Marc Lacy & Friends presents S.W.A.G.P.P.A.C.
Symposium 2013 at the Huntsville Madison
Public Library from 2 – 5pm. There will be spoken
word artists, graphics, gurus, photographers,
publishers and authors.
www.urbannetwork.com.
The Huntsville Bead Society will have a meeting
from 10am until 6pm at the Crestwood Women’s
Center at 185 Chateau Drive. The class will be
Crystal Bead Ring. Cost for non members is $5 and
materials will be available for purchase.
[email protected].
16
#100313102313
VOLUME 11 ISSUE 14
October 12 – 13
The Cat Fanciers Cat Show will be this weekend at
the Jaycee’s Building at John Hunt Park. There is
an admission charge. 256-536-0810.
Sunday, October 13
The Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll will be at the
corner of Wells & Maple Hill Drive in Huntsville,
from 2 – 4:30pm. 256-533-5723.
Monday, October 14
There will be Free Confidential Health
Screenings, at the Huntsville Hospital’s Mobile
Medical Unit from 9:30am to noon, parking lot of
main Huntsville-Madison County Public Library.
Tuesday, October 15
Members of ‘Not Your Mama’s Craft Circle’ will
be teaching a craft class at Our Space Community
Center at 2004 Poole Drive, #C from 6 – 8pm. There
is a $10 registration fee.
256-886-1150.
There will be Salsa on the Patio at Amendment
XXI from 6:30 – 11pm.
October 16 – 20
The Play, Spoon Lake Blues, will be at UAH’s
Morton Hall in Studio 106 at 7:30pm. Tickets are
$12 and $6 for students and seniors. www.uah.
edu/la/departments/theatre/2013-season.
There will be a concert Celtic folk band Slip Jig at
6pm in the atrium of main Huntsville-Madison
County Public Library. Free.
256-532-5975, hmcpl.org.
There will be a Spanish/English Conversation
Circle, practice your second language with native
English and Spanish speakers. It will be at 6:30pm
at the Monrovia Library,
[email protected], 256-489-3392.
The Taste of Huntsville will be at the VBC South
Hall from 5:30 – 8pm. There will be foods from
more than 30 local restaurants and caterers.
256-551-2368.
October 17 – 19
2500 Meridian Street. Performance times will be
Thursday and Friday at 7:30pm and Saturday at
Renaissance Theatre presents, The Women in
Black at 7:30pm. It will be upstairs on the Main
Stage. Tickets are $14. 256-226-4571,
www.renaissancetheatre.net.
Friday, October 18
L’il Wayne and the Same ol’ 2 Step will be in
the Flying Monkey Theatre from 8 – 11:30pm.
Admission is $15.
wwwczdance.com, wwwsameol2step.com.
October 18 – 19
The Murphy Friends of the Library Fall Book
Sale will be from 9am until 5pm at the Eleanor E.
Murphy Library. Prices start at .10.
256-881-5620, www.hmcpl.org.
October 18 – 20
Fantasy Playhouse presents the show Peter Pan,
Boy Who Would Not Grow Up Friday and Saturday
at 7pm and Sunday at 1:30pm and 5pm at the VBC
Playhouse. Tickets are $15.
www.fantasyplayhouse.com, 256-539-6829.
The Pen Women will meet at the Huntsville
Islamic Center for a tour and a talk by Marilyn
Lewis-Alim. 256-464-9130.
Falling Leaves Book Sale will be from 10am until
4pm at the Huntsville- Madison County Public
Library. www.hmcpl.org.
There will be a benefit for the Russel Hill Cancer
Foundation featuring Billy Zoom and many other
local bands and a silent auction. Doors open at
4pm at Straight to Ale.
www.facebook.com/MusicHasAMeaning
The 3rd Annual Pink Daisy Project Benefit will
be at the Sports Page. Admission is $5. There will
be a Silent Auction from 6 – 9:30pm and live music
all night. The event starts at 6pm and ends at close.
256-880-9471.
The Huntsville Chamber Music Guild presents
the Van Cliburn 2013 Silver Medalist, Sean Chen
THE VALLEY PLANET
Grounded
Coffee:
espresso shot. If you enjoy B-52’s - the drink, not
the band - you’ll recognize the layout. Like The
Duke, John Wayne is a shooter…you get the hot, the
cold, and the flavor in one fell swoop. It’s a hit.
County Lane Rd
Wakes UP
by Jim Zieliński
L
ike Sam and Greg’s découpage, the teacolored maps adorning Grounded Coffee’s
tabletops are the café’s cynosure. There’s
something about cartes ancienne, combined with
a well-appointed Comfy Chair Centre, that reads
“tranquility.”
Here’s respite from the maelstrom of activity
that’s engulfed County Line Road of late; here,
Oygen Banks played Cook’s tour (or barista’s
expedition) guide, pleaching window-shopping
with tableside-chomping.
On the right end of Village Shoppes of Madison’s,
at the juncture of County Line Road/Old Provence
Place/Dock Murphy Drive, GC opened its doors
on Independence Day Eve Eve Eve. Owner Chris
Moore forwent life as a Chemical Engineer to pilot GC through caffeine-laden waters.
He and his wife Katie oversee a work atmos and
ethic that are sadly rare. In effect, says he, Chris
has upended his organizational chart in his endeavor to make the “office” a pleasant, rewarding
place to be, instead of a guilty displeasure. Too
many times, he’s witnessed workplaces wherein
employees were mistrusted and neglected (who
hasn’t?), living fodder for inferior superiors who
saw them as stepping stones or, occasionally, dirt
under said stones. Thus, you’ll see “Grounded”
Coffee as a multi-pun on grinding the bean and
grounding one’s sense of being…by escaping the
grind.
As mentioned previously in Zee’s Rocket City
bEAT, GC carries Rishi Tea [www rishi-tea.com],
an artisan brand with which I was heretofore unfamiliar. I quaffed “Lemon Turmeric,” as I couldn’t
recall ever having encountered potable turmeric.
Coupled with ginger and lemongrass, it gave the
tea a snappy finish that made one wonder whether
pepper was an ingredient. ‘Twas pleasant enough
to enjoy unsweetened.
GC also boasts a selection of all-natural, low-cal
Dry Sodas [www.drysoda.com]. I swilled tangy
Blood Orange, but Cucumber and other refreshing varieties (can you say “Rhubarb” or “Juniper
Berry?”) are available, created to “re-imagine
soda…to make soda better tasting, and better for
you,” by minimizing both sugar and ingredients
to maximize the impact of herb, juice, and floral
flavors. I’ve been unpleasantly overpowered by
the cloying sweetness of, say, Soba (read, “ick”)
and this was a welcome, deserved relief.
To the beverages: the “John Wayne” arrives in
a shot glass containing a layer each of half-andhalf, vanilla flavoring, and a ristretto, or “short,”
Likewise, a Traditional Cappuccino (with ristretto) gives a full coffee flavor without the piercing
acidity that mars many a Joe-based admixture.
(An old hint from Chef Ryan Zieliński: ditch the
filter on your machine right after your coffee’s
made. Leaving it hanging allows further oils
and bitterness to seep in.) Regardless, every 90
minutes, they toss all old coffee, however well it
might have kept in its airpot, and start afresh.
I didn’t sample Rishi’s Chai, but am happy to report it contains black pepper, and No Americanizing Vanilla.
Their Pistachio-Almond Cupcake had a delicious
frosting that hinted at marzipan (rather than Amaretto, I’m glad to report) while the cocoa - NOT
milk chocolate - and espresso tang of the Mocha
Cupcake gave a pleasant depth and bite that counteracted its sugar.
Indeed, the pastries here seem almost Hessian in
their reduced emphasis on SWEET; as Julie’s Poppins espoused, “Enough is as good as a feast.”
The muffins were incredibly moist, with both the
Cranberry-Orange (orange juice, mind you) and
Blueberry chockfull of their respective fruits. All
are crafted by Gabriella Million, whose “Simple
Treats” [Facebook] have found a welcoming
home with the Family Moore. My folks found the
crumb topping of the former particularly appealing. A Sausage-Egg Muffin was a pleasant take
on a breakfast staple, though carnivores might
prefer something a bit more substantial.
at Trinity United Methodist Church at 2pm, and
Gold Medalist Vadym Kholodenko and 7:30pm.
www.hcmg.us.
Executive Group 256 presents Lavender Tie Gala
& Polo Survivors Luncheon in support of all
Cancer Survivors at Early Works Museum. The
luncheon begins at 11:30am and the Gala event
will be at 8pm. The cost for both is $40. 256-6521355, [email protected].
The 2nd Annual Pink Ribbon Gala will be at the
VBC North Hall from 7pm until midnight. 256450-9033, [email protected].
There will be a Contra Dance in the gym of Faith
Presbyterian Church at the corner of Airport
and Whitesburg Drive. There will be live music
by The Tennessee Pigweeds and calling by Janet
Shepherd. It is from 7:30pm until 10:30pm. Lessons
begin at 7pm. Admission is $7 and $4 for students.
Children under 12 are free. 256-837-0656, http://
secontra.com/NACDS.html
The Von Braun Astronomical Society will hold
its annual Astronomy Day from 1 – 10pm at the
VBAS facilities in Monte Sano State Park. Events
will include family fun activities hosted by local
science groups, planetarium shows and telescope
observing (weather permitting). All activities are
free and open to the public. www.VBAS.org.
The Mill Village Woolery Hook-In Workshop will
be from 9am – 5pm at Lowe Mill. The workshop
costs $50.00 and includes lunch, drinks and snacks.
There is a limited class size so register early.
www.lowemill.net.
The 8th Annual Liz Hurley Ribbon Run will be in
downtown Huntsville. The Men and Women 5K
will be at 8am and the Survivors’ will be at 9:45am.
256-265-8077.
depression and treatment options from 11am until
noon at the Huntsville- Madison County Public
Library. Free. www.hmcpl.org, 256- 532-2362.
There will be an Art Critique at Lowe Mill from 6
– 7pm. Free. www.lowemill.net.
The UAH Office of Multicultural Affairs presents
Real Talk Roundtable Diversity Forum “What’s the
Big D.E.A.L? Be Different, Be Educated, Be Aware
and be A Leader” will be at the UAH University
Exhibit Hall at 9am. 256-824-2333.
The UAH Office of Multicultural Affairs presents a
Motivational Seminar and Diversity Forum with
guest speaker Dr. Derek Greenfields at the UAH
University Exhibit Hall at 7:30pm. 256-824-2333.
There will be an Artist Talk with Guadalupe
Robinson from 6 – 8pm at Lowe Mill. Free.
www.lowemill.net.
October 24 – 26
Renaissance Theatre presents, The Women in
Black at 7:30pm. It will be upstairs on the Main
Stage. Tickets are $14. 256-226-4571,
www.renaissancetheatre.net.
Friday, October 25
The Epic Comedy Hour will be from 8 – 10pm
in the Flying Monkey Theatre. Admission is $7.
www.flyingmonkeytheatre.org.
October 25 – 27
The Delta Zeta Marketplace will be at the VBC
East Hall. There will be more than 150 exhibitors
with hand-crafted items for sale. 256-533-1953.
Admission is $2 and free for children under 12. It
will be Friday and Saturday from 9 am – 7pm and
Sunday from 12 – 5pm. (See ad pg.12)
There will be a Blue Pants Beer Run 5K through
downtown Madison. The run starts at 10am at
Blue Pants Brewery. www.bluepantsbrew.com.
On Gabriella’s personal horizon is the creation of
a Peach Cobbler Scone (tres Remains of the Day)
and a series of Tarts…you, me, and the Knave of
Hearts must needs keep abreast of further developments.
International Archaeology Day will be from 1
– 4pm at Lowe Mill. Activities will include tours
of the Tennessee Valley Archaeological Research
lab facilities, artifact identification, flint knapping
demos, atl-atl (spearthrower) competitions, and
various kids’ activities. www.lowemill.net.
Other offerings include cookies, French Stirs, Hot
Chocolate, Fizzers, and Crème Sodas.
There will be a Christmas Card Class from 2 – 5pm.
Learn how to make your own handmade cards &
build collection before the holidays hit! This class
will be at Studio #327 of Lowe Mill.
www.colorhousedesigns.com
The Fifth annual Masquerade Ball, a celebration
for teens in middle and high school will be from
8pm until midnight. There will be food, music,
dancing and a costume contest. It will be at the
Huntsville – Madison County Public Library.
Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door.
8 p.m. to midnight. Food, music, dancing, and
a costume contest with prizes. 256-532-5962,
[email protected].
Peter Wilm will be demonstrating his Sharpie,
stream of conscience, drawing technique at 1st
Floor West Micro Gallery, from 12 – 4pm.
www.lowemill.net.
There will be an All Occasion Card Class from 2
– 5pm at Studio #327 at Lowe Mill. Learn how
to make your own handmade cards & build your
www.colorhousedesigns.com.
Phobiology will be from 7 – 9pm on the west lawn
of Lowe Mill. Free. 7-9pm.
www.lowemill.net.
The Murphy Writers’ Group will meet at the
Eleanor E. Murphy Library at 3pm. The guest
speaker is the Huntsville Times reporter Kay
Campbell. The Murphy Writers’ Group is open to
writers of all genres and skill levels, ages 14 and
older, [email protected], 256-881-5620.
BTW, the Comfy Chair Centre is overseen by select photos of iterant shutterbug Jeff White, printed on wooden frames that allow the grain to show
through the art…with great effectiveness.
The Moores offer drive-through service and are
concocting a pricing schedule of coffee/muffin
combos to quench the brekkie needs of area businesses. You’d be wise to avail yourself of both.
Meanwhile, Baby Moore is en route.
…That caffeine’s gonna come in mighty handy.
Grounded Coffee @ Village Shoppes of Madison
12120-C County Line Road
Madison, AL 35756-2005
(256) 258-9637, www.thegroundedcafe.com
Hours: Mon – Thu, 6:00 a m. – 8:00 p m.; Fri
– Sat, till 9:00 p m.; Sunday – CLOSED!
The 9th Annual Rocket City Short Film Festival
will be from 7 – 11pm in the Flying Monkey
Theatre. www.flyingmonkeytheatre.org.
Rolling Thunder Alabama Chapter 2 will have a
Poker Run at Chips and Salsa. Registration is at
10am. Donations: $15 per rider and $5 passenger.
256-714-9293,
www.rollingthunder-al-chap2.org.
The International Heritage Festival will be at
Burritt on the Mountain from 10am – 4pm.
www.burrittonthemountain.com.
October 19 – 20
The town of Mentone will have Colorfest. There
will be a 5k Color Run and a Scarecrow Holler, and a
Scarecrow Building Contest, there will also be arts
and crafts.
www.DiscoverLookoutMoutnain.com
The 2013 Car Audio Championship will be at
the South Hall of the VBC. There will be over 200
vehicles on display and competing. Tickets are
$10. www.CarAudioChampionship.com.
Bootanica will be at the Huntsville Botanical
Garden from 10am – 2pm. There is an admission
charge. There will be a costume parade, games,
activities and ghostly treats. www.hsvbg.org.
Lowe Mill’s Official Halloween party, Pizza Party
Massacre will be from 8 – 9pm. It is themed as a
“Showbiz Pizza/Chuck E. Cheese” style family fun
night out gone wrong. www.lowemill.net.
Sunday, October 27
There will be an Author Video Chat: Daniel R.
Schwarz, Cornell University professor, will discuss
the challenges facing newspapers in his book
EndTimes?: Crises and Turmoil at the New York
Times-2009. It will be at 2pm at the HuntsvilleMadison County Public Library. Free.
www.hmcpl.org.
THE END!
Sunday, October 20
The Johnny Stallings Arts Program Fall Fashion
Show will be from 4 – 6pm at the Merrimack Hall
including the students in Dance Your Dreams!
Project UP, Inspired HeARTs, and The Connection
for a fashion show.
www.merrimackhall.com.
Tuesday, October 22
There will be Halloween/fall Cocktail Tasting at
Amendment XXI from 6:30 – 8:30pm.
There will be a Health Forum on Depression.
Occupational therapist Imogene Tilson discusses
Service with a Smile & Comfy Chairs!
THE VALLEY PLANET
#100313102313
VOLUME 11 ISSUE 14
17
Send in your random encounters today. It’s FREE!!
We are putting all the categories together since it seems like there are always more jeers than anything
else!! But just to give you an idea of what the To Yuno from Yunohoos are about… I Saw you: but you
didn’t catch my name, You saw me or you think you were seen: Cheers: Pay your respect to those who
deserve it and of course Jeers: Frustrated? Tell us all about it. Thankfully, we don’t know who you are!
The Valley Planet Music Exchange is FREE to any individual (not businesses) looking to
buy, sell, trade or find bandmates. You get a headline and 3 lines of text for FREE!
Please call (256) 533-4613 or
email your ads to [email protected].
Church band looking for keyboard or piano player.
Also needing strong lead singer. If interested and for more
information, call or text 2566588200.
Vintage 1966 Fender Mustang Electric guitar, previous
owner stripped the paint down to the wood grain.
$850. call 256 975-6793
Long time drummer/musician seeking to form (or join)
high energy ‘neo-grunge’-’post apocalyptic’ original music.
My influences include everything from Foo Fighters, Tool,
Deftones, Janes Addiction, The Mars Volta, QOTSA, NIN,
APC, RATM, Anthrax, Portishead, Massive Attack, Dido, Eisley,
MuteMath, Silversun Pickups, etc. I like concept records,
beautiful melodies backed by driving rhythms & deep
meaningful words. Anyone interested I can be reached at
[email protected]. or 256-431-6252 (txt or call).
Looking forward to making magic - FLY THE SOULCRAFT.
TAMA Starclassic Bubinga 7 pc. Drum Set (magnetic
orange) with hard cases, plus 10 piece set of Paiste
Signature cymbals with TAMA stands and pro touring case.
All professional equipment in excellent condition. $2,950.
Call Steve at: 256-771-3385.
The Single Guy:
Communi-Date
“I’d appreciate referral to a musical techie/engineering
type interestedin a potential project that could become a
business. I have designed anincredibly versatile instrument
that puts a limitless amount of capability in the hands of an
electric guitarist - too versatile to explain in ashort ad. Call
Joe at 256-617-1395 or email to [email protected].”
“I’ll do the cover tunes if we can also try origs. I play el/ac
guitar,all keys, other instruments, and sing lead/harmony.
Seek bassist anddrummer, or already-formed band. Contact
Joe at 256-617-1395.”
Holton Maynard Ferguson ST550 Trumpet for sale.
Includes mouthpieces, cup mute, lyre & music stand. Asking
$500. 256.289.1196.
I am a DRUMMER looking for a Reggae band that needs
an experienced DRUMMER. I have played DRUMS in the
Reggae Mystics (now Kush) as well as with Groove Therapy
in Dayton, Ohio. I have professional DRUMS and PERCUSSION and I am very reliable. If you know anyone who needs
a great Reggae DRUMMER email me at [email protected].
time or money to make it happen. I do not say
this to brag, but to remind myself that God is not
done with me!
ust recently, my back up got married. You
know, we all got them, that one person of the
opposite sex that you made a pact that “If we
are still single by age 30, 40 (I keep pushing it
back another 10 years) we will marry each other!”
Well damn! Now what am I supposed to do? I felt
betrayed, alone and empty and she did not consult
with me before this happened - I mean seriously,
we had a solid hand shake and pinky swear on
this! To make matters worse I started looking at
my “girlfriends” history and all are now married,
some with kids, and living the family life.
I have always been one to think long term and
work on my future and I do believe God still has
some work to do on me. My days of breaking girls’
hearts are done. I miss the “playa” ways at times,
but am ready to stop wasting time on someone I
know is not “the one.” I know in my heart that
I do want to settle down someday. I do want to
have a wife and a family. I want to experience
the joy of seeing my bride walk down the aisle
someday, though knowing me and the girl I will
marry- our wedding will be one of dancing and
bouncing down the aisle (don’t worry-you’ll see
it on Good Morning America and Today…yep it
will be THAT good), and sorry but no “roll tide”
or “war eagle” will be spoken of or seen. And I do
feel that there will be a happy ever after someday
- at this rate I may be 80 years old, but I see it!
At first, I did the natural thing and blamed myself.
Then, I called my mother who blamed me! Thanks
Mom! Nothing like calling for support only to be
left hanging up the phone with more questions
than comfort - what’s wrong with me? Why am I
so afraid of commitment? What am I going to do
now? Then, I started thinking rationally. The one
answer to all of these questions is not negative at
all and, in fact, can be answered in just six words:
“They were not the right one!”
Being single, we all have our days when we feel
like there is just no hope for us! Or that somehow
we are not meant to be in a relationship. Or feel
like we lost the drive completely and do not even
want to look for a relationship - what’s the point!?
I’ve been there for awhile now. However, when I
sit back and look at my pretty blessed life, God
quickly reminds me in another six words “You
have not found her yet!”
by Aaron Hurd
Reality with a hint of Relief!
J
Yes, it’s true, I’ve confessed before - I am afraid
of commitment, I have ruined some great possible
relationships because I am too picky, yes there are
some things wrong with me, and I do have regrets
- who doesn’t? But, there are also many things
that I am blessed with. I have a great career that
is constantly evolving and promoting me. I own
property in two states that I can call my own. I
have a dog that is my constant companion no
matter what happens, and have a great loving and
supportive (although sometimes too truthful on
their thoughts - thanks again mom) family, and a
niece who stole my heart the minute she entered
this world! Many of these things would not have
happened if I was married and with a family at
this point in my life. I would not have had the
18
If I feel it is going to happen and I want it bad
enough I do believe it will happen. It will happen
when the time is right for both of us and when I
am ready to be the man she needs and deserves.
Then and only then will I be at the right place
at the right time and there she will be. I will be
a true believer with lots of love and relief that I
finally found her, not to mention the sigh of relief
from good ole Mother… just hope they get along
or God help us some more!
Thanks for reading! Feel free to email me if you’d
like to comment or share your relief story at
[email protected].
#100313102313
To send in your FREE ad
1. Keep your word limit to 40 words. No names, just initials if you want.
2. Meet the deadline.
3. Get it to us: Put “To Yuno from Yunohoo” in the subject line of the email and send to classifieds@
valleyplanet.com.
France just outlawed child beauty pageants. Good for them. America should. You people are sick. Your
kid is bait, more likely to become the next Jon Benet Ramsey than a TV star. Disgusted with stupid
people.
Ashley - Better shorten your dawg’s leash. He sniffed around everything in the bar and tried to hump
more than legs. Your Girlfriends
La-Q – I see you waiting for the bus almost every day. I drive the red Corvette and will stop and say
“Hi” soon. I will take you around the world, places you’ve never been and don’t know you want to go.
De-S
KGD- I will never stop trying, I will never stop loving you, 3 years, break-ups, you begging, me
begging you, us getting married, all the messes we’ve made, you are the cream in my coffee, my
M*A*S*H® mate, my bff, my everything. I am Mrs. Mayberry, and you need to bring your sweet sexy
self home! Thanks- Mrs. D
If you go to Destin forget about B*****’s. Used to be great, but now it is way too high, the oysters and
the service sucks. Don’t order the crabs, P the bartender will give you a case for free. I hate when a
place I used to love goes to hell. Disappointed vacationers.
KA – Your stew was delish! Haven’t run into a Brussels sprout yet! J
Tired of Trick or Treaters? Put a “Beware of Dog” sign in your front yard, make a little kiddie dummy,
lay it on the sidewalk, draw a chalk outline around it, tear up a plastic bag and scatter the candy about.
It will make you love Halloween again. The Grump
What happened to the good ol’ days when soccer moms gave blow pops instead of Tootsie rolls? Wistful Halloweenie
Ceesee behind me in Biology class. I love the short dresses. They show me the future all the way to next
Friday night. Take one for the team. The QB.
DA – I’m wondering how long it will take you to figure out your windshield gets shot with a pellet gun
every time you drive in with that rap crap booming. Light Sleeping Neighbor.
Want to have some fun? Go to an outlet mall, stand outside the “Fossil” store and warn geezers, “Don’t
go in there. They may not let you out.” Cursed and caned.
Kathy, I know someone told you that your eyes are as blue as a husky dog’s. What they don’t tell you
is that your breath would kill Kudzu. Colgate Fan.
Brandy, You’re a fine girl. Your kiss has launched a thousand ships, made many a sailor come and go.
The happy fleet.
Just a topic for discussion: Did you ever wonder if John Wayne Gacy killed Ronald McDonald? If he
didn’t he should have. Face it. Clowns are creepy as hell, even more than a mall Santa. RCT
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THE VALLEY PLANET
#100313102313
VOLUME 11 ISSUE 14
D
19
better rates plus
a whole lot more!
When you have a checking account at RFCU,
you’re automatically upgraded to Redstone
MemberPlus! You’ll get great benefits including
better rates on some loans.
Visit any branch or www.redfcu.org to sign
up and discover the value of membership.
Must be RFCU member to obtain loan. RFCU is an Equal Credit Opportunity
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181 - Valley Planet

Transcription

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