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belen teye

READ THE PLANET, IT’S FREE!
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 3
#032306041206
WWW.VALLEYPLANET.COM
March 23 - April 12, 2006
IN THIS ISSUE
Swithchfoot’s
Jon Foreman
Talks
Constellation:
Interview with
Jordan WalkerPearlman
Tuna, Art and
Barf?
Party of One,
Giving it up
Nothing to Do??
Letter from the Publisher
By Jill Wood
203 Grove Ave., Huntsville Al, 35801, phone 256.533-4613
Publishers
Frankie Glassco
Jill Wood
Editor
Billy Joe Cooley
Distribution
Charlotte Griffin
Graphics & Layout
Frances Damian
Contributors
Ricky Thomason
Allison Gregg
Leslie Parks
Steve Moulton
Billy Joe Cooley
Jennifer Roberts
Roy Thomas
Eric White
Nan Cunningham
Byron Headrick
Tina Rochester
David Harwell
Tony Ferrari
KorKeya
James Spagnola
Ann Mauney
Liv Lanier
The Valley Planet is printed for you by the good
folks at Pulaski Web
in beautiful & sunny Pulaski, Tennessee.
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.
Email us at [email protected] or
[email protected]
Spring Fever. Do you have it? I
hear that the first step to recovery is
admitting it.
One thing I am painfully more aware
of the older I get is how quickly
time goes by. From my experience,
I have found that if I do not make a
conscious effort to have a little fun
each day, then sometimes I don’t!
Throughout this publication, week
after week, we present you with
hundreds of “activities” to do in the
Huntsville “Metro.” So… get out
a pen. Come on, humor me for just
a moment! Circle three things in
this issue that you would like to do,
regardless if yours is the club scene,
the art and music scene, theatre,
sports or the family scene. Venture
out. Find three and circle them. Put
them on your calendar, your Day
Timer, your cell phone or your IPAQ.
And simply… do them.
Time is flying by and for me, if I
do not make the time to do some of
the things that I want to do when I
have the opportunity, many times
the opportunity is gone. As is the
moment, the day, the week and the
year. My thought for now is “ Have
a little fun – you just get one ride,
and be nice to people.” Thanks for
reading.
In The Planet
THE VALLEY PLANET
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 3
#030206032206
NEXT ISSUE April 13, 2006
Page 3
Page 4
Gossip, On the Cover
Page 5
Sprucing up the house, Boondocks
Page 6
The Hollow, Constellation
Page 7
Two-Day A&M Film Screening Date Set
Page 8
Nothing To Do???, Sister Mary Ignatius
Page 9
Noghting is Sound, Switchfoot
Page 10
Jazzy, Music Calendar
Page 11
American Idol, Live at tha Loft
Page 12
Regional Concerts
Page 17
Page 19
Word on the Street, 2006 Ability Foundation Charity Golf Tournament
Global Village at Panoply Arts Festival, Calendar
of Events
Dr. Anarcho’s
Page 20
The Great Cycle Experiment of 2006
Page 21
Tuna, Art, and Barf?, Teye and Belen, Southerners
to March
Party of One
Page 18
Page 22
Unchained Maladies
Page 24
Good Book into a Bad Habit, “What if God was one
of us?”
Listings
Page 26
News of the Weird
Page 23
256-533-4613
2
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4
#032306041206
The Pain of Getting
Tattooed
Byron Headrick
The needle doesn’t hurt
As much as you would think
Watching the lines grow
Across your skin
Thin
Then
Spreading thick
Fuzzy
Red
- Reload the ink
- Wipe the blood away
Somewhere I am four years
And some odd days back
To my wedding then
Slung forward to her divorce
And some things
Hurt worse
I catch myself thinking
While I watch
Drawn
Back by the new sensations of pain
With every new line
It feels
Different
Every inch or two
Some hurt (almost unbearably)
Some lines
Feel
Just like
Pressure
- Reload the ink
It provides along enough break
To rationalize this pain
This really isn’t worse
Than being shoved into my driver’s
side window
Maiming my shoulder
Splitting my head
X-rays
Stitches
Months of therapy
This is short
And soon will go away
The pain only lasting
At the start
While the scars remain
Forever
- Reload the ink
After outlining the image
Comes the color-up
A wider needle
And the blood
Boils up
With every
Stroke
Mingling with pain
Ink
And blood
I realize
THIS
Is the biggest commitment
I’ve ever successfully made
Watching the image
Take depth
Tone
Shade
I come
To understand
Endurance
Strength
Zen
- Reload the ink
And with one pass more
This thing is done
I smile content
Rubbing
The bloody red image with my finger
tips
Contemplating the pain of getting
tattooed.
THE VALLEY PLANET
Gossip
By Billy Joe Cooley
I
t was interesting to run into
Bruce Thornhill (Mark’s dad)
and Bill Bowman the other
evening. They are quartet singers
and better known as The Regents.
Our friend Elizabeth Peery is
in Huntsville Hospital. She and
daughter Nan are regulars around
our Wednesday night supper table.
Vivacious Jeune Blackmon has
become rich and has left her dressselling job at Dillard’s (Madison
Square).
Meanwhile, Eula Langley is
recuperating nicely from back
surgery in Atlanta. She sends love
to all via her Dr. Ralph.
Sympathies to our musical friend
Glenn E. Mitchell of Gurley,
whose wife Ruth died a few days
ago. Her grandkids include Dana
Morgan, wife of our long-ago
running pal Jim.
has decided to support Democrat
Phil Dotts for the state senate seat
being vacated by Jeff Enfinger.
Our gal Gail reminds us that
Tuesdays are big nights at Judge
Craters, beginning with their ‘darts
league.’ She says their barkeep
Kevin somebody, was serving
Jason Mayfield the photog for
Huntsville Rugby when she
arrived.
Speaking of politics, we crossed
paths the other evening with
County Commissioner Jerry
Craig and retired license director
Emmet Sanders. They look like
they’re good for another term in
the limelight.
Then she met up with the Dixie
Derby all-star girls roller derby
team, a new team that will have
Tuesday night derby bouts at
Roller Time (the old Rainbow
skating rink, 7 to 9). She talked
with Cherry Violence and
Leather Hide. Their first event
will be Sunday, April 23 against
the Birmingham Tragic City
Rollers.
Big supporters of the Dixie girls
include Dave Patterson, Wayne
Wright and Walter Adams.
This is “Be Nice to Patricia
Hunter” week. She’s a Connecticut
Yankee who came south years ago
and is a staffer at Publix on Airport
Road.
If you wonder whatever happened
to the infallible Fletcher Davis,
then wonder no more. He is alive
and doing well on Willowbrook
Drive
Happy trails!
And Gail raves about a “wonderful”
12-member band called Maple
Hill, playing traditional Irish
music at The Corner Pub on the
first Tuesday night of each month.
Suzy Narmann is the singer.
“And LaJane somebody was our
waitress.” Gail is not much on last
names when it comes to the hired
help.
Politics are in the air and Floyd
Hardin’s barber shop is abuzz. He
On the Cover
“Red Ginger”
an oil on canvas By Nan Cunningham
N
an Cunningham is blessed with
an uncommon eye. Her work, in
a variety of mediums, celebrates
the ordinary, from objects like a saddle
waiting to be cleaned or a torn Kilim
carpet to her latest series, “Vanishing
Landscapes of the South.” Her vision
of the simple as beautiful has won
widespread acclaim, most recently at
the Mississippi Art Colony, where she
received the 1998 Fontaine Award for
Excellence. Cunningham’s Paintings
are exhibited in galleries throughout the
South and hang in private and corporate
collections in the United States and
Mexico. Born and raised in Alabama,
Nan earned a Bachelor of Arts in Visual
Design at Auburn University. Since
then, she has continued her studies at
Tulane University and with nationally
known artists, Hugh Williams, Byron
Burford and Joseph Smith. She currently lives and paints in Montgomery,
where she is founder and director of
the Third Street Painter’s Workshop.
She teaches fall sessions at Arrowmont
College and enjoys teaching others to
“really see.”
This piece is currently at Artistic Images Gallery at 2115 Whitesburg Drive
in Huntsville.
THE VALLEY PLANET
#032306041206
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4
3
Unchained
Maladies
Ricky Thomason
pornography websites 40 million
Promise Keeper men who viewed
pornography in last week 53%
Christians who said pornography is a
major problem in the home 47%
Adults admitting to Internet sexual
addiction 10%
Breakdown of male/female visitors to
pornography sites 72% male - 28%
female
Women and Pornography
13% of Women admit to accessing
pornography at work.
70% of women keep their cyber
activities secret.
17% of all women struggle with
pornography addiction.
Women favor chat rooms 2X more than
men.
1 of 3 visitors to all adult web sites are
women.
9.4 million women access adult web
sites each month.
Women, far more than men, are likely to
act out their behaviors in real life, such
as having multiple partners, casual sex,
or affairs.
Writes
Toys and
Porn
A
ccording to an article published
by The Associated Press, bars
and nightclubs in London and
other British cities have begun using
vending machines that sell sex toys
such as mini vibrators.
That’s the buzz around England these
days, at least. I suppose one uses a mini
vibrator when they only want a quickie.
To my disappointment, the other ten doit-yourself-pleasure toys weren’t listed.
I’m not making this up. I quote the
AP because I’m from Alabama, and
frankly, I don’t believe it either. After
all, the old white men who run this
state of confusion don’t want the
women of Alabama to have sex toys
– period.   They’re probably afraid that
not even Viagra can prime the old pump
enough if the women get really stirred
up, or they’re afraid women will need
them like fish need bicycles.
artwork by Debbie West
The pink Tabooboo machines had
previously been used in public toilets in
Britain, under the assumption that such
settings gave buyers some privacy.
Sex toys don’t equal porn. If they did,
they’d be free. Here are some stunning
stats on the state of porn in America.
Get ready to read aloud to everyone
near you.
Geoff Todd, manager of the Alphabet
Bar in London’s West End area, said
the Tabooboo machine it installed in the
middle of the bar is used daily. “Some
people use it just because it’s in the bar.
Some make a special journey, maybe
because they are to embarrassed to go
into a sex shop,” Todd was quoted as
saying by Monday’s The Guardian
newspaper. “Some buy the toys because
they are a novelty, some do it for a
laugh, some buy them as presents. It’s
been a great success.”
See? The AP even quotes another news
source. Do you reckon they believe it?
In addition to bars and nightclubs in
London, Manchester and Newcastle,
the vending machines also have begun
to show up in hairdressing salons,
health clubs and retail stores, Tabooboo
managing director Alan Lucas said. He
said the company also has exported
about 20 of the machines to Italy and
about 10 to the United States.
The State of Alabama is probably not
one of the recipients.
“The younger generation isn’t phased
by sex toys. They don’t believe they
equal pornography. Vending machines
allow them to buy such products
anonymously without going to a seedy
sex shop to do so,” Lucas said.
4
The 11 different sex toys carried by the
Tabooboo vending machines sell for
an average $8.80 in U.S. dollars each,
Lucas said.
I’ve got this friend and his wife, you
see, who tell me that $8.80 is a far cry
cheaper than we can get them here, even
if we order them off the Internet.
The
following
information
is
taken directly from the Family
Safe
Media
website
htto:
/ / w w w. f a m i l y s a f e m e d i a . c o m /
pornographystatistics.html
Their stated aim is “Preserving Family
Values in a Media Driven Society”
Pornography Statistics
Internet Pornography statistics become
outdated very quickly, especially in the
Internet environment where numbers
change daily. These statistics have been
derived from a number of different
reputable sources including Google,
WordTracker, PBS, MSNBC, NRC,
and Alexa research.
Pornography Industry Statistics
Porn revenue is larger than all combined
revenues of all professional football,
baseball and basketball franchises.
US porn revenue exceeds the
combined
revenues
of
ABC,
CBS, and NBC (6.2 billion)
Size of the Industry $57.0 billion worldwide - $12.0 billion US
Adult Videos $20.0 billion
Escort Services $11.0 billion
Magazines $ 7.5 billion
Sex Clubs $ 5.0 billion
Phone Sex $ 4.5 billion
Cable & Pay Per View $ 2.5 billion
Internet $ 2.5 billion
CD-Rom $ 1.5 billion
Novelties $ 1.0 billion
Other $ 1.5 billion
Child pornography generates $3 billion
annually
Internet Porn Statistics
Pornographic websites 4.2 million
(12% of total websites)
Pornographic pages 372 million
Daily pornographic search engine
requests 68 million (25% of total search
engine requests)
Daily pornographic emails 2.5 billion
(8% of total emails)
Average daily pornographic emails/user
4.5 per Internet user
Monthly Pornographic downloads
(Peer-to-peer) 1.5 billion (35% of all
downloads)
Daily Gnutella “child pornography”
requests 116 thousand
Websites
offering
illegal
child
pornography 100 thousand
Sexual solicitations of youth made in
chat rooms 89%
Youths who received sexual solicitation
20%
Worldwide visitors to pornographic
web sites 72 million annually
Children’s Exposure to Pornography
Average age of first Internet exposure to
pornography 11 years old
Largest
consumer
of
Internet
pornography 12-17 age group
15-17 year olds having multiple hardcore exposures 80%
8-16 year olds having viewed porn
online 90% (most while doing
homework)
7-17 year olds who would freely give
out home address 29%
7-17 year olds who would freely give
out email address 14%
Children’s
characters
linked
to thousands of porn links 26
(including Pokeman and Action Man)
Adult Internet Porn Statistics
Men admitting to accessing pornography
at work 20%
US adults who regularly visit Internet
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4
#032306041206
Ricky Thomason is a freelance writer from
Huntsville. Email Rick at
[email protected].
Let Ricky know what you think at our forums at
www.valleyplanet.com.
Fat Tuesday @ Kaffeeklatsch
THE VALLEY PLANET
Sprucing up the house
By Roy Thomas
Redstone Federal Credit Union
2006 Panoply Billboard Winner
Jodie Tinker, 4th Grade, Covenant Christian Academy
A
couple of weeks ago when
the weather was absolutely
gorgeous, I was starting to get
in the mood to do some sprucing up
around my home.
This includes opening up all the
windows to let some fresh air inside,
opening the blinds, and actually walking
around outside in my yard to survey
what, if any damage had occurred from
the cold, winter months.
It’s as if I was coming out of hibernation.
Fortunately, the damage outside isn’t
too bad.
I also went to the home building show
that was held at the Von Braun Center,
and that really put me in the mood to do
some sprucing up around my home.
While I was looking at several neat
things that I can do…inside and out…I
also started to realize, the things I want
to do couldn’t be done for free.
One great thing about being a
homeowner is taking advantage of an
opportunity to use the equity that’s been
building in my home to do the work I
want to do.
It’s called a Home Equity Line Of
Credit (HELOC), and if you come over
to Redstone Federal Credit Union, we
can tell you how you can get a HELOC
and start sprucing up your home.
I’m not sure if I can get all of this done
this spring…a lot of it will carry over
into the summer, but I do know that I’ll
have the money I need to do the work I
want to do because of the HELOC I’m
going to get at Redstone Federal Credit
Union.
Get your
FREE
Valley
Planet
Static Cling
Decal!!
Send a self addressed,
stamped envelope to
203 Grove Ave.
Huntsville, AL 35801
BOONDOCKS
Jordan Marshall, 2nd Grade, Madison Academy.psd
I’m preparing a list of things I want
to do…paint the outside of my home,
replace the carpet with wood flooring,
paint several rooms inside, and fix up
my flower and shrubbery beds around
the front and back patios.
THE VALLEY PLANET
#032306041206
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4
5
The Hollow
staged in April
Constellation: The Film
That Was Meant To Be
By Tina Rochester
I
t’s been a year or so since the
completion of the feature film
“Constellation”
and
Jordan
Walker-Pearlman has been very busy.
Ten months of planet-hopping and
Constellation has racked up numerous
awards and worldwide recognition.
A
n unhappy game of romantic
“follow the leader” explodes
into murder one weekend at The
Hollow home of Sir Henry and Lucy
Angkatell.
“The Hollow” will be staged at
Rennasance Theater, 1214 Meridian
St., on April 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15 at 8
p.m. and on April 9 at 5 p.m. Tickets
are $14. Dinner and theatre are offered
on Friday, April 7 and Saturday, April 8,
with tickets at $35.
As for the play, Dr. Cristow is at the
center of the trouble: Henrietta, his
mistress; Veronica, his ex mistress; and
Gerda, his wife are all at The Hollow.
Also visiting are Edward (who is in
love with Henrietta) and Midge (who
loves with Edward). Veronica ardently
desires to marry Cristow and succeeds
in reopening their affair but is unable
to get him to divorce his wife. Veronica
unwisely states that if she cannot have
him, no one shall. Within five minutes
Cristow is dead. Nearly everyone has
a motive and most had the opportunity.
Enter Inspector Colquhoun and Sergeant
Penny to solve the crime.
“As good a stage whodunit as we have
had for some time,” said the London
Observer.
On the dinner theater menu: mandarin
orange salad; baked chicken with
Florentine artichoke sauce; steamed
rice; sautéed vegetable medley; fudge
cake with raspberry sauce; iced tea;
complimentary wine
Tickets may be reserved at 256-5363117
Valley Planet and Olde Town
Fat Tuesday Party @ Humphreys
I am blessed in that I have become
friends with Jordan over the last
2 years. Our friendship was born
through a LOVE of coffee -- especially
Kaffeeklatsch coffee. Everytime he
came into the store I could tell that he
was falling more in love with Huntsville
and the people around him.
We recently met at the Chophouse
for a quick drink (which turned into a
wonderful dinner with his close friends
Ralph, Daniel, and Cat). Jordan was
quick to answer questions, especially
about family and friends (even though
he rarely gives personal interviews).
When all the questions had been asked
and the interview was complete I was
able to ask two simple questions,
strictly for selfish reasons:
1. What the heck was it like growing up
with Willy Wonka as your uncle?
-- “He is one of my best friends.”
2. Were Gene Wilder and Gilda Radner
as awesome a couple as I always wanted
them to be?
-- (He just started beaming) “I called
her Aunt Gilda even before they were
married. She forced me to take a break
from movies and go to college. She
would have loved Huntsville.”
TR: You are a writer, producer and
director. Is there any role that you
prefer over another? Why?
JWP: I can’t say that there is a single
element I prefer the most because
for me it’s all movie making -- the
screenwriting, the directing -- and
sometimes I write new scenes while
filming, editing and producing. I
consider myself a director or movie
maker and it’s all part of the same
process. Producing is not as much fun,
passionate or organic to me as the other
elements. But I am a producer primarily
to protect my creative freedom as a
director.
JWP: My inspiration came from the fact
that I couldn’t pay the actors and crew
so they couldn’t take time off from their
day jobs. Seriously though, I did shoot
some of that during the day. But most of
it was shot at night.
thing I knew I was scouting locations
and filming in Vermont and Whistler,
among other places.
TR: You took time off from films, to
attend college, studying International
Affairs and Foreign Policy. At that time,
what direction did you think your life
was heading?
JWP: Yes, but they would just have to
come about as naturally as Snow Taxi
did. I don’t think I’m good at doing
standard documentaries, which is a
specialized craft and art. If I found a
subject matter I was passionate about
and just couldn’t fictionalize I would
go for it.
JWP: I had been making movies, short
films, for several years. My whole
life was movies. I got a contract in
Hollywood. I wasn’t ready and I was
afraid I would only make movies about
making movies. I felt a deep sense of
there being other adventures and causes
to participate in. I thought my life was
headed in the direction of a diplomatic
and political career and perhaps one day
I would return to movie making. That
day came sooner than I thought. It’s my
first language and love, movie making,
and it’s the only thing I seem to do well
enough to get paid for. So I returned. I
am still interested in those other things,
but now I view them as part of the prism
of my film making.
TR: How did filming the snowboarding
documentary Snow Taxi come about?
JWP: I had just done five short films
for European Television. I was looking
to start my film company and make
my first feature. Some young prosnowboarders were starting a company
and wanted to do a documentary on
snowboarding. They saw some of my
films for European TV and met with
me and asked me what I would do
with the subject matter if they hired
me. I said I would make a generational
documentary about snowboarding.
They liked that take and the next
TR: Would you consider working on
other documentaries?
TR: Your first feature film The Visit
tells the story of a young black man
(Hill Harper) struggling w/AIDS while
in prison. What inspired you to write,
direct and produce this film?
JWP: I wanted to tell a story that
touched on the emotional situations and
strong moral fortitude of the community
I grew up around in my Grandmother’s
neighborhood in Harlem. I wanted to
tell a story that would resonate with
the members of the church I’ve been a
part of since I was a baby, First Cavalry
Baptist. By that I mean, a story about a
family in a moral crisis and a man on a
spiritual journey and they happen to be
an African-American family.
I was working on story close to my
heart, about a young woman raising
a child that was the product of incest.
It was not going in the direction of a
feature. Then I saw the play, The Visit,
by Kosmond Rusell, about his visits
to his HIV positive brother at an Ohio
prison. I secured the rights and adapted
the play, incorporating my shorter
stories within the play’s overall plot.
From that was born the screenplay and
the movie, The Visit.
Portrait by Billy Dee Williams
www.bdwworldart.com
TR: You got your start with a young
Nickelodeon. What type of work were
you doing?
JWP:
I was on a show called
“Livewire.” Nickelodeon was new then.
I was already making short films. They
were hungry for content so they featured
me on some of their programming. I got
lucky in that respect.
TR: At the age of 15 you directed
Through the Night about a man who
owed the mob money. What inspired
you to shoot this only at night?
6
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4
#032306041206
THE VALLEY PLANET
TR: Constellation is about an artist
(Billy Dee Williams) who returns to
his southern hometown to take care of
family matters. He finds himself forced
to deal with a past dominated by an
interracial relationship. How much of
this movie touches on your own life?
JWP: There is very little, in the
actual plot, that touches on my own
life, but there is a lot of emotional
autobiography. I think as in the case of
most storytellers, there is a little of me
and my experience in each character.
I’d have to say in particular when it
comes to some of the relationships
the character of Errol has. It’s also no
coincidence that the part is played by
my closest friend, Hill Harper.
When it comes to the character of
Helms, the artist that Billy Dee plays,
I think there are certain parallels to me,
though not all of them are flattering.
I think Helms is a person who, as he
grows closer and more confident in
his art, has become less successful in
his human relationships. I think that’s
something artists of any kind have to
work on. I find that with myself, the
more natural I come to my work in any
given moment the more lost I am in
dealing with some of the people closest
to me in my life. The more withdrawn I
become. It’s something I am aware of.
Helms comes back home and finds he
has a whole family, particularly two
daughters, he has failed to connect
with. One of the good things about
being an artist is you think in broad
canvases, and sometimes understand
that life is lived out against, as a far
as this earth is concerned, a ticking
clock. You have only so much time
to love, you might as well love big.
Helms tries to fix things with his whole
heart in very big brushstrokes, it’s his
nature. I understand that. I hope at least
Constellation inspires some people who
see it to reach out to loved ones, maybe
in a big way.
That’s why I make movies - we are
not the gatekeepers of reality but the
liberators of dreams.
TR:
Since finishing Constellation
you have spent most of your time
traveling to promote the film through
film festivals and such. Where have
you been and what has been the general
reaction?
JWP: I’ve been going through what
I call the pre-confetti period, or
buzz period. Rather than just go into
release, I take the film around both as
individual promotions and festivals and
gauge the audience reaction, meet the
audience, do questions and answers,
and hopefully build up word of mouth
among people that like the movie. It
also gives me perspective on the movie
and any changes I might make before
it’s released in theaters.
This buzz period has been longer than
usual, about ten months. It started in
Denver (where we won the audience
award for best picture) and then went
on to Cannes (won best American
film in Agora-Lumiere showcase) then
New York (Audience Award Winner at
THE VALLEY PLANET
Urbanworld).
We screened with films like Crash and
Hustle and Flow, and then rounded out
the festival circuit with Roxbury Boston
(won best of festival award). Since then
there have been promotional screenings
in Philadelphia, Washington, DC,
Atlanta, twice in London, South Africa,
Lincoln Center, three in San Francisco
and twice in Chicago.
The reaction from the audience has been
wonderful, and each one in different
ways. I’d have to say the most unique
experience was the South African trip
in which Gabrielle Union (who plays
Carmel in Constellation) accompanied
me. The townships in Durban don’t have
movie theaters, so an arts center was
built to screen movies. Constellation
was the first American film screened
there. The audience (50%) were very
young, I was surprised that they stayed
with the movie and cheered and cried,
were into it. The movie screened twice
there and more importantly Gabrielle
and I conducted seminars with the
young kids, so it wasn’t just screenings
and press. I think the experience had a
profound affect on both of us.
The buzz period comes to an end
this April with a screening at the US
Embassy in London, hosted by the
Ambassador. That’s a unique way to
conclude this part of the process.
TR: You have homes in LA and NYC,.
but you choose to spend your downtime here. You are even considering
buying a home. What attracts you to
Huntsville?
JWP: I came to love Huntsville very
quickly, and I love it as a third home to
come to when I am not in LA and New
York. I have told people abroad that
it’s like a European city in America.
I like the mountains and the climate,
and I like the emerging energy here,
I think it’s something special and will
evolve into someplace even greater. I
love having my downtime here and it
has some of my favorite places in the
world, like Pauli’s Chophouse, Clems,
The KaffeeKlatsch, The Wine Cellar,
and the new art gallery Zanzibar. It
also has some of my favorite people in
the world. I’ve always wanted to find a
haven where I could live between the
bustle of LA and NYC, as much as I
love those places too. But I didn’t think
I’d quite find it, almost as if it was like
Shangra-La. But I think I’ve found it in
Huntsville.
Huntsville-but there is no reason not to
start now. If you have the imagination
and passion, you are a film maker, and
you should start writing and making
films even if it’s a blueprint for what
you will ultimately do.
TWO-DAY A&M FILM
SCREENING DATE
SET
TR:
What is the next step for
Constellation and for DaWa Movies?
And will Huntsville be considered
again as a film location?
JWP: Constellation will be released
in theaters in America in the summer
(and probably overseas in the fall). The
soundtrack should drop around the same
time. As soon as the promotional tour is
over I will decide for sure what I want
my next movie to be. I will probably
make the announcement at Cannes.
The funny thing about Huntsville is,
now that I want it to be a third home I
don’t want all the good peace and quiet
disrupted by show folks!
In seriousness, what I am leaning
towards doing is relocating the new
commercial and music video division
of DaWa Movies to Huntsville and have
sort of a southern base in Huntsville. I
would come here for down time, but
also to write and edit films. I would also
bring some of the talents and dollars
from New York and LA into Huntsville
and shoot and edit some videos and
commercials here.
The thing about Constellation was it
was a perfect fit with Huntsville, taking
place in a modern southern city that still
had charm. Not every movie I make
will be a good fit, and there are some I
want to make that could not be shot in
Huntsville. I would like to do a couple
more here for sure, but the material will
have to fit the location.
Either way, whether I shoot one more
movie here or a half dozen, I think
Huntsville is part of my personal and
creative future.
dawamovies.net
constellationthefilm.com
A
n award winning film maker
will screen his work at Alabama
A&M University.
Aaron Greer, a Tuscaloosa-based
producer of narrative and experimental
video, will present part of his work on
Thursday, March 30, at 6:30 p.m.in
the J.F. Drake Memorial Learning
Resources Center (Library) multipurpose room.
The program will also be presented
Friday, March 31, at 1 p.m. in the same
location.
The programs will feature Gettin’
Grown, a story of a 12-year-old’s
trek through his neighborhood. He is
constantly confronted with competing
forces for right and wrong being placed
before him by the adults in his life.
Greer, who was producer, director, and
writer for the project, will also discuss
his works that have been screened and
won awards at several international
film festivals. As a bonus, a short
experimental video produced by Greer
will be included in the program.
An assistant professor in the
Department of Telecommunication and
Film at the University of Alabama since
2002, Greer earned the MFA in film and
media arts from Temple University.
The screenings are sponsored by
the Department of English, Foreign
Languages and Telecommunications at
AAMU and are open to the public free
of charge. For additional information,
contact James A. Powell, Jr., assistant
professor of telecommunications at
AAMU, at (256) 372-5387.
TR: Any advice for local independent
filmmakers?
JWP: Film. Film….write, film, film,
write….in other words, if you have the
passion to make movies don’t wait for
the opportunity to come to you, create
it-with pen and paper or even video
camera. Think about the stories you
want to tell. There are a lot of people
that will tell you how hard it is, and
that if you are in Huntsville you should
save up to go to Los Angeles before
starting to create your work. It’s true
it’s not easy, nothing great ever is. It’s
true you will have to spend time out of
#032306041206
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4
7
Nothing To Do???
By David Harwell
By Leslie Parks
D
id you know that the Huntsville
Stars are the longest running
and most successful sports
franchise in the Tennessee Valley? Of
course you did! You’re not stupid…
sometimes you just think there’s
Nothing to Do. Lucky you… baseball
season is just around the corner and all
of that is about to change! The Stars
http//www.huntsvillestars.com
2006
home opener is scheduled for Tuesday,
April 11th, vs. the Birmingham Barons.
I still remember the excitement we felt
back in 1994 when the Barons came
to Joe Davis Stadium in a brand new
team bus with a rookie named Michael
Jordan. While Michael probably won’t
show up for any games this year, there
are a lot of great promotions planned
throughout the season that will be fun
for everyone. If you’re impatient and
want to get out to the park before the
opener why don’t you come out on
Tuesday night, April 4th, for a “Spring
Training” game between the Stars and
the UAH Chargers? Gates open at 5:
00pm for a first pitch at 6:05pm. Tickets
are only $5 and 50% of that will go to
support the UAH baseball program.
Good news! Café from Brazil on
Whitesburg has been doing such a good
business at lunch they’ve expanded
their hours to include dinner, too.
Now you can give them a try Monday
– Friday from 5-8pm. (Lunch remains
11a-3pm every day except Sunday.) The
dinner menu is evolving and Saturdays
are sometimes “test run days” to try out
new items. Who knows, you might just
get to sample the newest thing before it
even hits the menu!
Visit our
Tent at
Panoply
NASA is hosting their 13th Annual
Great Moonbuggy Race at the Space
and Rocket Center on April 7th (high
school students) and 8th (college
students.) Teams from across the
country and as far away as Puerto Rico
have designed, built, and will race
their human-powered “moonbuggies”
over a mile course that is strewn with
simulated lunar items including craters,
rocks, lava ridges, and inclines. Prizes
are awarded for the fastest vehicles
and to the teams with the best technical
solutions. (The competition is rumored
April 28-30
8
Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It
All For You
to be fierce this year! Please, as always,
no wagering.)
One of the coolest exhibits I’ve ever
seen at the Museum of Art is returning
on March 26th. This will be your last
chance to see “A Silver Menagerie:
The Betty Grisham Collection of
Buccellati Silver Animals” before
it goes on a three-year national tour.
(Buccellati is a luxury Italian jewelry
company out of Milan.) These animals
are created using a method known as
lavorazione a pelo which translates to
“hair-like workmanship.” What that
means to you and me is that the folks
at Buccellati weld together hundreds of
thousands of silver “hairs” or “feathers”
to create a silver animal that looks so
real it defies the imagination. Check
it out while you have the chance, it is
fascinating!
And while you’re at the Museum of
Art you should also check out one of
Huntsville’s newer restaurants, the
Palette Café, which is open for lunch,
dinner, and Sunday Brunch. Their menu
is varied and includes crepes, paninis,
salads, and dinner specials of steak and
seafood. (I had a filet there just a week
ago that has been ranked in the “Top
5 Steaks I’ve Ever Eaten in My Life”
category!) Some times it’s standing
room only and you might have to wait
but it is well worth it. With warmer
weather coming our way you’ll soon
be able to sit outside on the patio beside
Big Spring and what could be more fun
than that?
Saturday, April 1st, will be a
grooooooovy night at Crossroads. Bust
out your bell-bottoms and head down
there to check out local band DiscOasis
who’ll be playing all your favorite 70’s
and 80’s music. (This is a pretty much
a Funk Free Zone... think BeeGee’s to
Blondie and you’ll be on the right path.)
The band will be decked out in their
70’s finest (complete with disco ball)
but don’t let their authentic look fool
you… it’s all about the music! Prepare
to get knocked off your platform shoes
before it’s all said and done…
One of the best days this month will
be Friday, April 8th, when I celebrate
another year of life here in the Valley
on the Planet. (“I’d like to thank God,
and my parents, and the Academy for
this honor!”) Emily Post, etiquette
guru, says: “The amount you spend
on a birthday gift should be based on
your affection for the person and your
budget.” Leslie Parks, greedy wench,
says: “Give til it hurts and don’t be
ashamed to use a lay-away plan if you
can’t afford to purchase the gift in one
pay period.” Nothing to Do? Don’t
kid yourself ~ you can spend hours
shopping for that perfect gift for me!
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4
#032306041206
S
ister Mary Ignatius, a teaching
nun who is much concerned with
sin in all of its various forms,
delivers a cautionary lecture to her
charges. One of them, a precocious
little boy named Thomas, can quote the
Ten Commandments on cue, and each
time he does so Sister Mary rewards
him with a cookie. But when several
of her former students turn up the picture darkens, along with Sister Mary’s
indignation. One of them is the happy
mother of an illegitimate child; another
a contented homosexual; still another
has had two abortions—the first after
having been raped on the night of her
mother’s death; while another student,
now an alcoholic, contemplates suicide.
Their stories are disturbing—but also
very funny—and it is quickly apparent
that one thing they all have in common
is their loathing for Sister Mary and the
unyielding dogma which she forced on
them in their formative years. In the end
there is mayhem and bloodshed but,
with this, the unsettling feeling that,
amid the laughter, some devastating
truths have been told.
The Actors Nightmare
Having casually wandered onstage,
George is informed that one of the
actors, Eddie, has been in an auto accident and he must replace him immediately. Apparently no one is sure
of what play is being performed but
George (costumed as Hamlet) seems
to find himself in the middle of a scene
from Private Lives, surrounded by such
luminaries as Sarah Siddons, Dame
Ellen Terry and Henry Irving. As he
fumbles through one missed cue after
another the other actors shift to Hamlet,
then a play by Samuel Beckett, and then
a climactic scene from what might well
be A Man for All Seasons—by which
time the disconcerted George has lost
all sense of contact with his fellow
performers. Yet, in the closing moments
of the play, he rises to the occasion and
finally says the right lines, whereupon
make-believe suddenly gives way to
reality as the executioner’s axe (meant
for Sir Thomas Moore) instead sends
poor George to oblivion—denying him
a well-earned curtain call.
THE VALLEY PLANET
Nothing is Sound
Switchfoot’s Jon Foreman talks about the
new record, the band, and life’s unending
controversies.
By Tony Ferrari
S
witchfoot started their coast to
coast national tour this month in
support of the band’s new record,
Nothing is Sound, which was certified
gold within a month of it’s release on
September 13, 2005. The band performs
at the UAH Spragins Hall on March 26.
U.K. favorites Athlete will open. The
headlining shows make up the second
leg of Switchfoot’s Nothing is Sound
U.S. tour.
hearing the stories definitely inspired
us to see first hand what was going on.
You have this idea when you go down
there that somehow as a citizen of a
wealthy country you have something to
offer and I realized that a seven year old
child in just the first five minutes, in just
a smile, had given me more than I could
ever repay him monetarily. They have
a richness and a wealth that we don’t
really even know up here in The U.S.
Switchfoot is a band that prides itself
on making Humanitarian causes a part
of their life. Switchfoot’s lead singer
and lyricist, Jon Foreman is very
upfront about life in general and his
expectations of himself and his band
are high. They seem to be surpassing all
expectation. Jon called me last week to
let me know what’s been on their minds
lately…
Why do you consider yourself a ruthless
idealist?
I have a lot of respect for what you do.
Your lyrics and the way you’re using
your commercial success to convey a
positive message is absolutely...
I’ve always been inspired by
philosophical issues, philosophy being
just the idea that people who’ve given
quite a bit of thought to issues that I’m
trying to tackle in my own life. I think
just real life happening all around you,
trying to see beauty and truth amidst
pain and lies and trying to make your
own way through it. I guess the biggest
realization I’ve had recently is that
music is a journey, kind of documenting
a spiritual journey, of our own spirit
personally.
I, (laughs) to a fault, can get caught
up in pursuing something that I really
think should happen. Whether, it’s in a
song, in a relationship or in life. I see
the way things could be and in my mind
should be and for better and for worse
sometimes, depending on the situation,
can pursue it almost too far at times. On
the positive side of the coin I think it
can be a really great thing as a catalyst
to pursue something better than what
we’ve got.
You seem to be so positive and hopeful
on Beautiful Letdown. On Nothing is
Sound you seem to be a little bit more
realistic and sometimes even almost
pessimistic. What happened there? Did
realism or reality set in there once you
became famous?
I think part of your environment dictates
the outcome of the song in a lot of ways
and writing these songs in the transient
environment of road life is probably
a big reason for the tone that’s set on
the record. I think for me a lot of these
songs are really hopeful. I think it’s a lot
more hopeful than pursuing and being
Speaking of spiritual journeys, tell me
about the South Africa Spiritual Quest
that you went on. What was the purpose
of that and what did you get from it?
one of the things that pulls on you the
most, the idea that on the road you feel
like a plant, a potted plant that never
actually gets to set root, everyday your
transplanted into a different town.
Did you expect “Beautiful Letdown” to
do as well as it did? I know you always
hope it will but did you expect to sell
like....
I don’t even think we really understand
how big it got. It’s just one of those
things, where you’re looking at records
and you’re like “that’s a huge record”
and then you realize that your record
sold more than that. It’s a very humbling
thing because you grow up in the music
scene where you hope to sell maybe
thirty or forty thousand records, and
that’s huge success in the San Diego
market. To sell…
You’re up to like three million, I think.
The catalyst was a couple friends
that we met live down there or were
working down there and just kind of
let down at the end of that. As far as
where the tone is coming from, it’s real
life experiences.
On to a more positive note…How did
you get involved, and what motivated
you to get involved with the underprivileged Youth of San Diego, the
Carehouse Organization?
Those are just like ridiculous numbers.
I’m just thankful and most of all I’m
thankful that people are hearing it, you
know, as a songwriter, as a musician,
you really want to get your heart and
soul out there and I feel like that was
achieved.
What’s your favorite song of all your
songs that you’ve written?
My favorite song is always going to be
the one I wrote yesterday. “Daisy” is a
really big song for me, I really relate
with that song a lot.
A friend of a friend, they initially
contacted us and wanted tickets to
come to one of the shows and we’ve
been in contact ever since. They’re just
incredible kids.
What is Daisy about?
Are you particularly close to any of the
kids or does your position not really
afford you the opportunity to do that at
this point?
You have lots of fans here in Huntsville
that are very excited to see you.
A self conscious flower. Acting like
humans, worrying about all these things
that don’t need worrying.
Tell them we said hello.
No, it’s just more of the idea that, I
rarely get to see my wife, let alone
any of my friends in the hometown.
That’s the hardest thing. I think that’s
THE VALLEY PLANET
#032306041206
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4
9
Y
Jazzy
By Billy Joe Cooley
ou are at a table for two in the
Tampa Yacht Club, looking
through the giant glass windows
to a couple of ships coming into the bay.
They are a mile or so away, and behind
them is a storm cloud.
You settle in for a cozy evening.
As your companion arrives, your waiter
comes to take your dinner order. The
storm cloud rolls in and the sprinkles
of a warm summer rain begin gently
striking the huge window.
More Fat Tuesday Photos
A small jazz trio begins to assemble for
a few romantic mood melodies. Devere
Pride plucks the strings on his stand-up
bass and his friends Jean Yves-Jung
and Steve Ellington start to pick out a
familiar tune on piano and drums. You
recognize it as “Softly as in a Morning
Sunrise.”
As the ships come closer you listen to the
trio play “Have You Met Miss Jones?”
and “Smatter.” The music matches the
mood of you and your lover.
As you leave the club, the ships have
long passed, as has the storm which
provided you with an excellent light
show to accompany the music.
So you order a CD of the music. You’ll
have the chance to experience all that
laid-back cool jazz again as you relax
at home.
Devere Pride and his trio live here in
Huntsville and his great CD, which he
calls simply “As in a Morning Sunrise”
is available at local CD outlets.
Devere also plays his double-bass on
Friday nights with the outstanding
group at The Jazz Factory.
-----My email address is [email protected]
--My book ‘Away Down South’ makes a
fine birthday gift.
Autographed and mailed for $16.
115 W. Clinton, Suite 805, Huntsville
AL 35801
You notice a professional tape recorder
in the corner and realize that the music
is all being recorded. Good, you can get
a CD of this wonderful evening.
The trio then plays Herbie Hancock’s
great “Dolphin Dance,” then “Black
Nile,” “You Go to My Head” and “This
is for Albert.”
The music speaks fundamentally to our
moods and feelings. There’s nothing
like a great song to put a spring in your
step, a feather in your cap. You find
yourself in the mood for life.
As your smiling waiter delivers dinner
to the table, you listen to the strains of
“Lazy Bird” and bassist Pride’s own
“Our Blues.”
At the stroke of midnight, your festive
meal has been consumed, you’ve
heard special renderings of “Someday
My Prince Will Come” and “Alone
Together,” plus an encore of “Our
Blues.”
music calendar
MUSIC
Thursday, March 23
3rd Base Grill, Edgar
Benchwarmer, Karaoke W/
Craig
Benchwarmer Too, Karaoke
Contest
Black Water Hattie’s, Karaoke
Bobby G’s, Karaoke
Coppertop, Southern Rock 3
Crossroads, Live Music
Freddy’s, Pla’ Station
Hopper’s, Rudy Mockabee And
The Music Factory
Humphrey’s Bar & Grill, Free
World
Jazz Factory, Jim Cavender
Judge Crater’s, Tom Nieman
Kaffeeklatsch @Night, Dave
Anderson
Philby’s Pourhouse, Toy Shop
Sammy T’s Music Hall, Jason
Albert Band
Sammy’s Live, Karaoke W/
Anita Palmer
Sports Page, 5 O’clock Charlie
The Corner (Bailey Cove),
Marge Loveday
The Corner (Hampton Cove),
Lacey Atchison
If you have a venue with Live Music or
Karaoke that you would like for us to
list please email to
[email protected]
Continued on Page 11
10
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4
#032306041206
THE VALLEY PLANET
Live at tha Loft
AMERICAN IDOL
WINNER CARRIE
UNDERWOOD
PLAYS HUNTSVILLE !
By KorKeya
I
t’s Treva Blomquist *live* from
Nashville Tennessee at tha Loft,
April 7th. That’s right, Treva, one
of Nashville’s shining stars will be
performing several of her latest hits,
including, “Nothing Left Give” and
“Plain Vanilla Me” at tha Loft Saturday,
April 7th at 8pm. Sweet, sincere,
soulful vocals with a splash of acoustic
fun that will take your heart away is
what you can expect from this Soulful
singer. You are invited to a shining
moment In Huntsville’s growing art,
music and entertainment scene. The
last time Treva played at tha Loft the
crowd graced her with an encore. Her
performance with The Suits was nothing
short of magnificent. If you missed
Treva’s performance the last time at tha
Loft, the opportunity has arrived once
again. See her now or forever hold
your peace. You don’t want to miss
this exciting show! Please visit us, tha
Loft at www.thaloft.com. It’s Treva
Blomquist *live*, on Saturday, April
7th, 8pm, at tha Loft. We’re on the 3rd
floor, inside the Historical Lowe Mill,
Located at 2211 Seminole Dr.
A
rmy Entertainment, Redstone
Arsenal Morale, Welfare and
Recreation and WZDX-TV
FOX54 proudly announce that Carrie
Underwood, 2005 American Idol
winner and up and coming country star,
will perform Friday, July 21, 2006 at
the Redstone Arsenal Activity Field.
Opening act(s) will be announced at
a later date. Entrance to the Redstone
Arsenal Activity Field may be gained
at Gate 10 on Jordan Lane South.
 
Tickets go on sale April 10, 2006 at all
Ticketmaster locations, the Redstone
Officers & Civilians Club, ITR Office,
Building 3711 Aerobee Rd. on the
Arsenal and also may be purchased
by calling 1-800-277-1700. Ticket
prices from April 10-21 will be $12.50
each, April 22-July 20 $18.00 each and
$20.00 the day of the show, July 21.
 
Concert
goers
are
encouraged
to bring chairs and blankets. No
cameras, coolers, video recorders
or weapons will be allowed.
 
Underwood is expected to release
another single this March following her
mega-hit and current single, “Jesus Take
the Wheel”. Meanwhile, the show that
made her a star, American Idol, is having
its highest rated season ever on FOX54.
Last year, country group Montgomery
Gentry played this venue and saw a
turnout of over 8,000. Underwood is
part of a ten site Army concert tour.
 
MUSIC
Continued From Page 10
The Warehouse, Tom
Cremeens & Jeff Everett
Madison
Half Time Bar & Grill, “Not-AStar” Karaoke
Decatur
The Brick, Jason Speagle
Guntersville
Adrian’s, Live Music
Sandy’s Roadhouse, Karaoke
Scottsboro
The Docks, Trey, Kenny &
Coach
THE VALLEY PLANET
Katie Hyatt, 3rd Grade, Walnut Grove Elementary
Friday, March 24
801 Franklin, Greg Chambers
& Keith Taylor
American Legion Post 176,
Square One
Craig
Black Water Hattie’s, Cracker
Jacks
Bobby G’s, Voodoo Dogz
Club Ozz, Enchanted Illusion
Coffeetree Books & Brew,
Larry Woelhart
Crossroads, Stars Below/Redd
Letters
Esquire Lounge, Chaos
Freddy’s, Blood River
Furniture Factory, Jerry
Mcallister
#032306041206
The Music Factory
Humphrey’s Bar & Grill,
Microwave Dave & The Nukes!
Jazz Factory, Marge Loveday/
The Swing Shift
Kaffeeklatsch @Night, Eric
Rhodes Blues Band
Moody Mondays, HDK Karaoke
Nikko’s, Edgar
Olde Towne Coffee Shoppe,
Captain Perry
Philby’s Pourhouse, 4 Door
Ramblers
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4
11
MUSIC
Sammy T’s Music Hall,
Monkees
Poptart
Sammy’s Live, DJ E
Sammy’s Sports Bar &
Steakhouse, Mike Roberts
Sports Page, A Lower Deep
Dave Anderson
Jim Cavender
The Warehouse, Lacey
Atchison, (5-7pm) Happy Hour
Atchison, 9-1am
Upscale, Ultimate Cabaret
Madison
11th Frame Bar, Karaoke W/
Jim Nelson, Female Karaoke
Contest
Half Time Bar & Grill, Tony Joe
Scott Band
The Station, Kozmic Mama
Decatur
Hard Dock Café, Lipstick
The Brick, Tim Tucker And The
Uh-Huhs
Guntersville
Adrian’s, Wasted Mason
Scottsboro
The Docks, Dan Hardin
Saturday, March 25
801 Franklin, Jazzanova Duo
Square One
Benchwarmer, Telico
Benchwarmer Too, Sister Luck
Bobby G’s, Voodoo Dogz
Club Ozz, Surprise
Entertainment!
Open Mic Night
Coppertop, 4 Door Ramblers
Crossroads, Rockabilly RoundUp And Burlesque Show
Flying Monkey Arts Center,
Teye & Belen, Flamenco At Its
Best!
Freddy’s, Black Label
Furniture Factory, Lipstick
The Music Factory
Humphrey’s Bar & Grill, Toy
Shop
Jazz Factory, Devere Pride
Trio/Charlie Lyle Quintet
Kaffeeklatsch @Night, Glen
And Libba
Nikko’s, Gem
Philby’s Pourhouse, 5 O’clock
Charlie
Sammy T’s Music Hall, 17th
Floor
Sammy’s Live, Live Music
Sports Page, Mojo Rising
Ben Trussell And Dan Hardin
Live Music
The Warehouse, Scott Morgan
Madison
11th Frame Bar, Karaoke
W/Jim Nelson, Male Karaoke
Contest
Half Time Bar & Grill, Tony Joe
Scott Band
12
The Station, None The Weiser
Decatur
Hard Dock Café, Hotrod Otis
The Brick, Roosevelt Franklin
Guntersville
Adrian’s, Live Music
Scottsboro
The Docks, Dan Hardin
Regional Concerts
March - April 2006
Huntsville
March 26
Merle Haggard
VBC Concert Hall
March 26
Switchfoot
UAH Rec. Ctr.
Sunday, March 26
Coppertop, The Crawlers
Crossroads, 40 Oz. Midget
Freddy’s, Karaoke
Hopper’s, Brunch W/Edgar And
Evening With Janice’s Karaoke
Kaffeeklatsch @Night, Blues
Jam
Sports Page, Tunes Karaoke
Tha’ Loft, Open Mic Night
Sun Jam Sessions W/ Scott
Morgan
March 28
Motley Crue
VBC
Birmingham
March 26
Bela Fleck & the
Flecktones
Alabama Theatre
April 1
Bill Gaither
Homecoming
BJCC
Monday, March 27
Crossroads, Open Mic Night
Freddy’s, Band Audition Night
Marge Loveday
Kaffeeklatsch @Night,
Acoustic Showcase/Open Mic
Dave Anderson
Jerry Pearson
The Warehouse, Tim’s Krazy
Karaoke
Guntersville
Tuesday, March 28
3rd Base Grill, Dj W/Live Trivia
Craig
Coppertop, HDK “Jackpot”
Karaoke
Crossroads, Toy Shop
Hopper’s, Janice’s Karaoke
Humphrey’s Bar & Grill, Jim
Cavender
Philby’s Pourhouse, Mike
Roberts
Jammin’ Jeff
Scott Morgan
Live Music
April 30
Bob Dylan & Merle
Haggard
BJCC
Nashville
March 25
Switchfoot
War Memorial
Auditorium
March 26
Oasis
Ryman Auditorium
March 29
Merle Haggard
Ryman Auditorium
March 31
R Kelly
Ryman Auditorium
April 7
Roberta Flack
Ryman Auditorium
Atlanta
March 22
Rob Zombie w/
Lacuna Coil
& Bullet For My
Valentine
The Tabernacle
April 13
The Wailers w/
Dubconcious
Roxy Theatre
April 14
Third Day
Fox Theatre
April 15
Jerry Seinfield
Fox Theatre
April 15
Black Eyed Peas &
The Pussycat Dolls
Chastain Park
April 15
Cowboy Mouth
Roxy Theatre
April 8
Train
Ryman Auditorium
Gadsden
March 31
Lee Roy Parnell
2nd Street Music Hall
April 1
Toy Shop
(Live Recording)
April 15
Blueground
Undergrass W/Rev.
Jeff Mosser
Third Day, April 14, Fox Theatre
Guntersville
Contest
Wednesday,
March 29
3rd Base Grill, Mike & Gabe
HDK “Jackpot” Karaoke
Songwriter’s Open Mic Night
Crossroads, Dave Anderson
Freddy’s, Karaoke
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4
#032306041206
THE VALLEY PLANET
MUSIC
Furniture Factory, Rockin’
Acoustic Duo Brian Cagle & Jeff
Goebel
The Music Factory
Lil’ Malcom & The Zydeco
Houserockers
Jazz Factory, Microwave Dave
Nikko’s, Edgar
Philby’s Pourhouse, Ben
Trussell
Steakhouse, Jason Albert Band
Sports Page, Pla’ Station
Ben Trussell
Marge Loveday
Madison
The Station, Kozmic Mama
Decatur
The Brick, Wes Woodard
Guntersville
Contest
Thursday, March 30
Craig
Contest
The Music Factory
Humphrey’s Bar & Grill, The
Fiddleworms
Jazz Factory, Summer
Anderson
Sammy T’s Music Hall, Black
Eyed Susan
Anita Palmer
The Corner (Bailey Cove), Jim
Cavender
Lacey Atchison
The Warehouse, Tom
Madison
The Station, Noel Webster
Decatur
The Brick, Lanier
Guntersville
Scottsboro
Coach
Friday, March 31
801 Franklin, Dave McConnell
“The Sinatra Guy”
Square One
THE VALLEY PLANET
Benchwarmer, Live Music
Black Water Hattie’s, Electric
Voodoo
Bobby G’s, Live Music
Weinstock
Crossroads, The Afromotive
Crash.Boom.Bang! *For Mature
Audiences*
Freddy’s, Johnny Collier Band
Furniture Factory, The Scratch
Band
The Music Factory
Harper
Jazz Factory, “Frank Sinatra”/
The Swing Shift
Kaffeeklatsch @Night, Tommy
Womack Band
Nikko’s, Edgar
Maeve Majestika
Philby’s Pourhouse, Dan
Hardin And Ron Jefferies
Sammy T’s Music Hall, The
Wayne Mills Band
Sammy’s Live, DJ E
Sports Page, Duane Walker
Dave Anderson
Lisa Busler
The Warehouse, Tom
Madison
Contest
Half Time Bar & Grill, Live
Music
The Station, Push
Decatur
Guntersville
Scottsboro
The Docks, Big Nose Roy
801 Franklin, Greg Chambers
Square One
Benchwarmer Too, Dusty
Winsett
Black Water Hattie’s, The
Scratch Band
Club Ozz, Surprise
Entertainment!
Open Mic Night
Coppertop, Hot Rod Otis
Crossroads, Discoasis
Audiences*
Freddy’s, Redd Letters
Furniture Factory, Jerry
Fordham
The Music Factory
#032306041206
Madison
Contest
Music
Decatur
Hard Dock Café, Room 240
The Brick, Black Label
Guntersville
Scottsboro
The Docks, Big Nose Roy
Sunday, April 2
Audiences*
Freddy’s, Karaoke
Jam
Jam Sessions With Scott Morgan
Monday, April 3
Hard Dock Café, Juice
The Brick, Toy Shop
Saturday, April 1
Harper
Kaffeeklatsch @Night, Ant
And Andrew
Nikko’s, Gem
Philby’s Pourhouse, Nashville
All Star Jam
Sammy’s Live, Pla’ Station
Sports Page, Live Music
Lisa Busler
Live Music
The Warehouse, Dan Hardin
And Ron Jefferies
Humphrey’s Bar & Grill, Lacey
Atchison
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4
13
MUSIC
Dave Anderson
Live Music
Karaoke
Guntersville
Tuesday, April 4
3rd Base Grill, Dj W/Live Trivia
Craig
Karaoke
Humphrey’s Bar & Grill, Scott
Morgan
Roberts
Jammin’ Jeff
Irish Night With Maple Hill Band
Live Music
Guntersville
Contest
Wednesday, April 5
14
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4
#032306041206
Crossroads, Stars Below/Family
Force 5
Freddy’s, Karaoke
Furniture Factory, Anita
Palmer
The Music Factory
Absylom Rising
Nikko’s, Edgar
Philby’s Pourhouse, Donnie
Cox
Ben Trussell
Reese Rushton
Decatur
The Brick, Live Music
Guntersville
Contest
Thursday, April 6
Craig
Contest
Crossroads, Perpetual Groove
The Music Factory
THE VALLEY PLANET
Starroy
Anderson
Nikko’s, Larry Woellhart
Anita Palmer
Marge Loveday
Lacey Atchison
The Warehouse, Tom
Madison
Decatur
The Brick, Chad Reeves
Guntersville
Scottsboro
Coach
Friday, April 7
801 Franklin, Johnny Hays
Square One
Benchwarmer, Lisiya Gora,
Quinta Essentra, Convergence
From With In, Abominat
Black Water Hattie’s, Eric
Rhodes Blues Band
Bobby G’s, Second Hand
Lincoln
Weinstock
Crossroads, Larry Keel
Freddy’s, Voodoo Dogz
Furniture Factory, Open Delta
The Music Factory
Holt Band
Kaffeeklatsch @Night, Ricky
Ray Rector
Nikko’s, Edgar
Live Music
Philby’s Pourhouse, Donnie &
Lisa
Dave Anderson
Live Music
The Warehouse, Live Music
Madison
Contest
Music
Decatur
Hard Dock Café, Short Bus
5
0
20
The Brick, Fiddleworms
Guntersville
Scottsboro
The Docks, Live Music
Saturday, April 8
801 Franklin, Jazzanova Duo
Square One
Benchwarmer, Kaye Bradys
Benchwarmer Too,
Government Warning
Black Water Hattie’s, Cracker
Jacks
Bobby G’s, Second Hand
Lincoln
Club Ozz, Surprise
Entertainment!
Open Mic Night
Coppertop, Live Music
Freddy’s, Stone Dogs
Goebel
The Music Factory
Holt Band
Judge Crater’s, Dan Hardin
Kaffeeklatsch @Night, Live
Music
Nikko’s, Gem
Philby’s Pourhouse, Live Music
The Corner (Bailey Cove), Toy
Shop
Live Music
The Warehouse, Marge
Loveday
Madison
Contest
Music
Decatur
Hard Dock Café, Booty Shakers
Aka Y,T & T
The Brick, Roosevelt Franklin
Guntersville
THE VALLEY PLANET
#032306041206
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4
15
MUSIC
Scottsboro
The Docks, Live Music
Sunday, April 9
Freddy’s, Karaoke
Jam
Sun Jam Sessions With Scott
Morgan
Monday, April 10
Microwave Dave, Solo
Dave Anderson
Live Music
Karaoke
Guntersville
Contest
Tuesday, April 11
3rd Base Grill, DJ W/Live Trivia
Craig
Banjo Workshop & Slow Jam
Karaoke
Marge Loveday
Roberts
Scott Morgan
Live Music
Guntersville
Contest
Wednesday, April 12
Crossroads, Dave Anderson
Freddy’s, Karaoke
Goebel
The Music Factory
Humphrey’s Bar & Grill, Lil’ Ed
& The Blues Imperials
Nikko’s, Edgar
Philby’s Pourhouse, Live Music
Ben Trussell
Marge Loveday
Scottsboro
Decatur
The Brick, Soul Shine
Guntersville
Thursday, April 13
Craig
Contest
Crossroads, LaSalle & Halo
Stereo
The Music Factory
World
Anderson
Anita Palmer
The Corner (Bailey Cove), Jim
Cavender
Lacey Atchison
The Warehouse, Tom
Madison
Decatur
The Brick, Live Music
Coach
Friday, April 14
Square One
Black Water Hattie’s, The
Crawlers
Fred Roberts
Crossroads, Todd Snider
Flying Monkey Arts
Center, Eyes Around, The
Drownout(Atlanta) & Skware
Freddy’s, Black Label
Furniture Factory, Room 240
The Music Factory
World
Kaffeeklatsch @Night, The
Crawlers
Nikko’s, Edgar
Live Music
Dave Anderson
Live Music
Atchison,(5-7pm) Happy Hour
The Warehouse, Dan Hardin
And Ron Jefferies
Guntersville
Panoply April 28-30, 2006
Khalil Norman, 4th Grade, Madison Cross Roads
16
Lauren Cunningham, 4th Grade, Horizon Elementary.psd
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4
#032306041206
THE VALLEY PLANET
Madison
Contest
Music
Decatur
Hard Dock Café, Blue Flame
The Brick, LaSalle
Guntersville
Scottsboro
The Docks, Arlo Gilliam,
Straight Out Of Nashville!
Saturday, April 15
801 Franklin, Johnny Hays
Square One
Benchwarmer Too, Battle Of
The Bands
Black Water Hattie’s, Live
Music
Club Ozz, Surprise
Entertainment!
Open Mic Night
Coppertop, Live Music
Crossroads, The Memphis Blues
Orchestra
Freddy’s, Blood River
Furniture Factory, Live Music
The Music Factory
Humphrey’s Bar & Grill, Pla’
Station
Kaffeeklatsch @Night, The
Victrolas
Nikko’s, Gem
Philby’s Pourhouse, 5 O’clock
Charlie
James Irving
Live Music
The Warehouse, Jerry Fordham
Madison
Contest
Music
Decatur
Hard Dock Café, Big Daddy
Kingfish
The Brick, Benefit For Toys For
Tots/Bishop Black & Tucos Pistol
Guntersville
Scottsboro
The Docks, Arlo Gilliam,
Straight Out Of Nashville!
Word on
the Street
By James Spagnola of SWOOP
A
s the weather is warming up
and people are rearing to work
on their gardens, take walks
in the park and ride around on their
bicycles, the season is coming for
people to travel from place to place as
if the new life that spring brings will
bring them a new life as well.
Spring and summer are the times of
the year when kids like to spend time
outside playing, walking, and going on
adventures. Teens like to spend time
hanging around at the park socializing
and harassing the geese and putting
soap in the fountain. As an adult, I
like to use the time to ride my bicycle
and explore Huntsville. Ahh yes, it is
time to move outside, time to take an
adventure!
As summer approaches the population
of transient teens is going to skyrocket
as will the homeless population in
Huntsville. There will be more people
on the streets, homeless or not walking
to and fro from place to place. Where
they are staying and where and how
they are living constantly enters my
mind. I don’t know if anyone else
scrutinizes people on the street as
much as I do but the mission is still the
same for me, to find and assist runaway
and homeless teens.
As summer approaches my job will
also be moving more outside doing
street walks, posting flyers and
being present in the places where the
transient population is most likely to
be found. I cannot be everywhere, so
I ask, if you are looking for adventure,
and want to get a closer look and get
a taste of what it is to be homeless, I
invite you out to volunteer and walk
with me in my quest to assist those
new to the street and to get a better
perspective of what a runaway or
homeless youth would encounter on
the street.
I can be reached at 256-348-5189, or at
the Jane K. Lowe shelter at 534-7671
or email me at [email protected]
Thank you!
Michelle Story, 4th Grade, Whitesburg Academy
To some people though, the problems
at home are not tolerated so well as
they were in the winter. As the weather
warms up, it is easier to bear the
outdoors and to escape from problems
in the home. Now that one could get
away with a couple pairs of warm
clothes and a blanket, the outside, the
“adventure” may seem more appealing.
2006 Ability
Foundation Charity
Golf Tournament
T
here’s always a good excuse for
playing golf. But if you can play
golf while also helping raise
money, why not play in the 2006 Ability
Foundation Charity Golf Tournament?
Held each year at the beautiful links
of Gunter’s Landing Golf Course in
Guntersville, players from all over
North Alabama will help raise money
for thousands of children with physical
and mental disabilities.
The tournament is scheduled Monday,
April 10 with registration and lunch
beginning at 11 a.m. and a shotgun start
at 12:30 p.m.
There’s a $1,000 cash prize up for grabs
with $600 going to the 1st place team
and $400 going to the 2nd place team.
And if the cash isn’t enough to entice
you, Olde Towne Brewery will be
offering complimentary beverages
while you play. Every three golf holes
will feature free beer plus putting
contests and other chances to win
prizes.
Registration is $75 a player, $300 a
team, and $100 for hole sponsors.
Contact
256-489-4421
for
a
registration
form
or
abilityfoundation.com for more details.
THE VALLEY PLANET
#032306041206
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4
17
GLOBAL VILLAGE AT
PANOPLY ARTS FESTIVAL
R
usty Wilkerson, Festival Director
of The Arts Council, announced
Panoply Arts Festival’s new
addition to their 25th year: The Global
Village.
The Global Village will feature thirteen
pavilions focusing on the cultures of
African-Americans, China, Colombia,
Egypt, Germany, India, Iran, Native
Americans, Palestine, the Philippines,
Poland, Scotland, and the Ukraine
clustered around the International
Stage.  Panoply patrons will be educated
and entertained with facets of the many
cultures in their own backyard.
Each pavilion will display artifacts
from that country, craftsmen and artists
will demonstrate native decorative arts
skills, and the hosts in each pavilion will
dress in apparel unique to their culture.
Children will be invited to learn a game
or create a craft item representative
of that country. In addition to these
exciting opportunities, children will be
encouraged to join in a daily parade of
nations through the park led by a fierce
Chinese dragon.
Other new features of the festival in
2006 include the Official Alabama
State Fiddling Competition and the
final round of the Homegrown Talent
Contest. Performances of the winning
entries to the 10-Minute Playwright
Competition, inaugurated in 2005, will
be held in the Huntsville Museum of Art
adjacent to the park, and the finals of the
Choreography Competition, an exciting
part of many past festivals, will be held
in the Concert Hall of the Von Braun
Center.
For more information about Panoply
Arts Festival or to volunteer, please
contact us at 256-519-2787, ext. 200 or
visit www.panoply.org
More Fat Tuesday Photos
Calendar of Events
and even scenes from industrial and
urban sites.
Through April 30
YAM 2006, Youth Art Month opens
at the Huntsville Museum of Art.
From 2-4pm Artist Demonstration
by Chuck Long, Linda Ruhl, Robert
Bean and S. Renee Prasil. As part of
the Museum’s Community Free Day
program, admission will be waived to
all visitors on opening day.
Through March 31
Exhibit: 381 Days “The Montgomery
Bus Boycott Story” is on loan from
the Smithsonian Institution Traveling
Exhibition Service. The exhibit
is located on the Alabama A&M
University, State Black Archives
Research Center, James Wilson
Building. For more information
contact 372-5846.
Through April 9
Sea to Shining Sea: A Reflection of
America- The Huntsville Museum
of Art is proud to showcase the
work of outstanding realist and
impressionist painters who have
collaborated for two years to
create 94 paintings that celebrate
the grandeur and diversity of the
American landscape. On view will
be images inspired by the nation’s
majestic mountains and rugged coast,
its more subtle rural countryside
Through July 23
The Huntsville Museum of Art’s
“View of the Collection: Art Tells
a Story. The HMA is located on
Church St. For more information
contact the Museum at 535-4350.
March 22-25
The Renaissance Theatre presents
About Bus Stop. The performances
will be held on the Alpha Stage of the
Theatre. The show begins at 8pm.
Tickets are $14. Reservations are
strongly advised please contact 256536-3117 for more information.
March 20-24
Burritt on the Mountain will again
host NATURE RANGERS, its
series of educational programs for
5-10 year olds held during Spring
Break).  Each weekday, activities
will highlight a different aspect of
Alabama history and the environment
and our place in it.  Students can be
enrolled for individual days or for the
entire week, with programs running
from 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. each day
and the cost is $30 per day. For more
info contact 256-536-2882.
March 23
West Coast Swing and Hustle dance
lessons held each Thursday at
Dublin Park in Madison. Lessons
begin at 6pm until 8:15pm. No preregistration required and cost is $5
per class. Contact Dave Roberts at
256-858-5841 for more info.
March 23
The Huntsville Botanical Garden
presents their fourth series of spring
luncheons. All Lunches start at 11:
30. The topic of this luncheon is
“Easy Steps to Jazz-up Favorite
Recipes”. Luncheon catered by Cyn
Continued Page 20
18
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4
#032306041206
THE VALLEY PLANET
S P OT LIGHT O N MUS I C
’s
O
H
C
R
A
DR AN
Rx for Old Stuff That Don’t Suck
With the exception of Carlos Santana, few rockers did more
to bring Latin-tinged rock to the masses than War.
When the good doctor Googled “War,” the first 2337 hits had something
to do with Bush-Lite, our current leader, and father of the Iraqi civil war. Finally,
Wikipedia came through for me.
War was a funk band of the 1970s with roots in California. They had no specific
genre and could not be easily pigeonholed; they played Jazz, Funk, Soul, Pop, and
R’nB. The roots of the band are from 1962, when Howard Scott and Harold Brown
formed a group called the Creators in Compton, California. Within a few years,
they had added Charles Miller, B.B. Dickerson and Lonnie Jordan to the lineup.
They recorded several singles on Dore Records.
In 1968, the Creators became Nightshift and started performing with Deacon
Jones, a football player and singer. At a performance, producer Jerry Goldstein
suggested they would start to work with Eric Burdon, of the disbanded Animals,
and Lee Oskar (a Danish Harmonica player).
The original WAR was comprised of: Eric Burdon (Vocals), B.B. Dickerson (Bass),
Lee Oskar (Harmonica), Lonnie Jordan (Keyboards), Papa Dee Allen (Percussion,
Bongos), Harold Brown (Drums), Charles Miller (Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet),
Howard Scott (Guitar)
They all sang and played various percussion instruments, which explains all of the
busy little toys on many of their songs.
Burdon changed the name to War and the new line-up, with Oskar, began
recording in 1969 and released Eric Burdon Declares War in 1970. The catchy,
quirky “Spill the Wine” became a hugely popular single, and the follow-up, The
Black Man’s Burdon was almost as successful as the first. In 1971, Burdon left the
group in the middle of a European tour, claiming he was too exhausted to go on.
After a highly unsuccessful album War’s The World Is a Ghetto reestablished them
at the forefront of popular funk and included the 1972 hit “The Cisco Kid”. That
was followed by the slightly disco influenced “Gypsy Man” from the 1973 album
Deliver The Word.
Why Can’t We Be Friends sold well, and included the smash hit “Low Rider” which
became “the song” for jumping-up-and-down, low riding vehicles worldwide.
A compilation of jams called Platinum Jazz was a surprise success in 1977.
The line-up began to fall apart in 1978 when Dickerson quit and Charles Miller
was murdered.
After a few unsuccessful attempts at recouping, War’s Outlaw was a moderate
success, but the group was unable to keep any momentum as members
came and went. By 1984, War was a touring band only. A comeback was
attempted in 1994 with Peace Sign. Unfortunately for us, the album flopped.
Dr. A’s Old Stuff That Don’t Suck choice this issue is: The Very Best of War [ORIGINAL
RECORDING REMASTERED]
Rarely does a “Very Best of” CD do this good a job of capturing the essence of a
band. Unless you are a deep-cut War aficionado, you’ll find everything you want
right here on this two-disk CD.
The remastering makes War’s intricate percussion work stand out even more, and
we all like CDs that make our audio systems sound good.
This is one of those CDs where you listen, find many familiar songs
that you always liked, and say, “Oh, I didn’t know they did that.”
They Did.
Disc: 1
1. Spill The Wine
2. Tobacco Road
3. All Day Music
4. Slippin’ Into Darkness
5. Get Down
6. Nappy head (Theme From
‘Getto Man’)
7. The World Is A Getto
8. City, Country, City
9. The Cisco Kid
10. Where Was You At
11. Four Cornered Room
12. Gypsy Man
13. Me And Baby Brother
14. Deliver The Word
15. Southern Part Of Texas
16. Ballero (live, 1972)
17. Why Can’t We Be Friends
Disc: 2
1. Low Rider
2. Don’t Let No One Get You
Down
3. Heartbeat
4. Smile Happy
5. So
6. Summer
7. L.A. Sunshine
8. River Niger
9. Galaxy
10. Youngblood (Livin’ In The
Streets)
11. I’m The One Who
Understands
12. Cinco De Mayo
13. You Got The Power
14. Outlaw
15. Baby It’s Cold Outside
16. Peace Sign
[email protected]
THE VALLEY PLANET
#032306041206
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4
19
The Great Cycle
Experiment of 2006
By Steve Moulton
I
t was early January. While most
were thinking of New Year’s
Resolutions I was thinking of sports.
What else would you expect from yours
truly? While I do love college football
and college basketball, I wanted to
broaden my horizons. Try something
new. I know it sounds crazy. But at the
very core of every sports fan there is a
portion of each and every one of us that
wants to feel the way we felt when we
were kids, the innocence and simplicity
of it all. I actually did not know that
was the road I was leading down
when I e-mailed a marketing guy from
Cannondale. But that is indeed the path
that occurred.
Cannondale makes bikes in case you
didn’t know. My mission, should I
choose to accept it, is to test a road
bike, and for that matter, to fit into
bicycle shorts. But now that I have
caused each and every one of you
readers to vomit, this column will
self-distruct in 700 words, Good Luck
Mr. Hunt. Against my better judgment
I accepted, I had never been on a road
bike before and wanted to try it out.
Basically pretend I’m Lance Armstrong
without being Lance Armstrong ever.
The folks at Cannondale were more
than accommodating through the local
realtor, which happens to be Bicycle
Works. They helped out a lot. Dave and
Robert know their stuff to say the least.
You can tell in the first five minutes of
just talking to them that they are in fact
bicycle gear heads. You can tell they
know it and they love it. And when
you’re around guys like that you can’t
help but be curious of why? Where’s
the passion coming from? Especially if
you’re trying something like road bikes
for instance, for the first time. I never
knew how much stuff there is related to
simply riding a bike. From the clips on
the specialty shoes to riding with a big
foam finger on you’re back side and on
your head. This is not your dad’s Huffy
anymore. The bicycle I was given to
demo was a road bike called a six by
13. The bike weighs sixteen pounds.
Sixteen pounds!
My water bottle
weighs more than that. My experiences
before this were on a mountain bike that
my dad bought me back in high school.
By the way Dad it still works great!
Something I should have seen coming
a mile away, but I didn’t is the fact that
many cyclists are very brand oriented.
I related to NASCAR. If you’re
Ford then you’re Ford, or Chevy, or
whatever. Same deal in bikes. If you’re
Cannondale you’re Cannondale. Very
few cross over between brands. But
one thing I did not expect to see was a
bicycle snob. They are real and some of
them take themselves way too seriously.
My demo ride was in the months of
February and March. Since it’s still
mostly cold in those months only the
hard-core bikers are out.
My first impression when I first climbed
on was, “What am I getting myself
into?” During that first impression
you’d think I’d be riding, right? Well,
you’d be wrong. You are being fitted
on the bike so that every revolution
that you make is maximized. In other
words it helps you go fast. I know what
some of you are thinking, “But Steve
I’m not in shape?” Guess what, neither
am I. I’m 5’10” and let’s just say over 2
bills. All right, no more excuses. What
I found while riding was something that
I had forgotten about. The freedom of
it, the independence of it, the peace, the
beauty of riding plus seeing the area in a
completely different way. And the speed
of it, this baby is designed for just that.
It can go up to 40 mph, or so I’ve been
told. If you try it you just may become
hooked. It’s not a cheap ride but one
well worth it. If you love roller coasters
then you’ll love riding on a road bike.
You would think that comparing a roller
coaster with a bike sounds ridiculous.
Try it and you’ll see. The bottom line is
that this is just fun. Now for your next
mission, if you chose to accept it, is to
convince your wife to keep this road
bike. (Something tells me that will be
longer than 700 words) As for you
Check
it
out
online
at
www.cannondale.com or I recommend
going by Bicycle Works.
Steve Moulton hosts The Pressbox every
weekday afternoon from 3 to 5 p.m. on
ESPN 1400 in Decatur, Ala. You can email
him at [email protected].
Shea’s in the Arbor. Cost for this
event is $25.
Silver Animals opens at the
Huntsville Museum of Art on Church
St.
March 23
Coffeetree Books and Brew hosts a
Fiction Writer’s Workshop beginning
at 7pm.
March 27
North Alabama NSAI workshop will
meet at 6:30pm in the Rec Room of
Country Club Apts. on Airport Rd.
March 24-26
12th Annual Battle Reenactment of
Bridgeport, AL. Gates open at 10am.
Join Bridgeport as the relive history
with Family fun, period music
and Civil War Era food. For more
information contact 256-495-3614 or
visit www.bridgportal.org.
March 27
Huntsville Chess Club meets at
Coffeetree Books and Brew, across
from Grissom on Bailey Cove. Open
to all ages, come and play, learn from
experts 6-10pm.
March 24
Songwriter’s Showcase hosted by
Jim Parker, at the Von Braun Center,
Concert Hall. Contact the VBC
Ticket office for information.
March 29
North Alabama Woodcarvers
Association will be meeting at
Coffeetree Books and Brew every
Wednesday at 6:00pm. Come whittle
with us!
March 24
The Film Co-op and Flying Monkey
Art Center presents “Bubble” by
Steven Soderbergh. Film begins at
8pm and admission is $5. Held at
the Flying Monkey Arts Center in the
Lowe Mill on Seminole Dr.
March 30
Luncheon at the Botanical Garden.
The topic of today’s luncheon is
“Appraising and Displaying Favorite
Antiques”. Lunch begins at 11:30
and will be catered by Clementine’s
in the Arbor. Cost for this event is
$25 each.
March 26
A Silver Menagerie: The Betty
Grisham Collection of Buccellati
April 1 & 2
The Independent Musical
Productions announce Auditions for
20
the Musical Jekyll & Hyde. These
auditions will be held at Lee High
School Choral Room 10am, Sat and
2pm, Sun. IMP is also looking for
technical people.
April 1 & 2
April Art Sale-Come and enjoy
local artists’ work. The sale will be
from 10am-5pm on Sat and 1-5pm
on Sun at the Clay House Museum
in Madison. For more information
please call Robin @325-1018.
April 1
Zydeswing dance lessons held each
Thursday at Dublin Park in Madison.
Lessons begin at 6pm until 8:15pm.
No pre-registration required and
cost is $5 per class. Contact Dave
Roberts at 256-858-5841 for more
info.
April 1
A call for street performers form
2006 Panoply Art Festival. Auditions
held near the Eternal Flame in the
Big Spring Park from 11am-2pm.
Come and support the local artists!
April 1
The “Roaring Twenties” will
returns! THE BIG READ will kickoff, with a FREE family event at
the newly restored Russel Erskine
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4
#032306041206
Hotel. The block party will be from
11 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the 115 block
of Clinton Avenue in downtown
Huntsville.  Everyone can tour the
newly-renovated “Art Deco” hotel,
mingle with characters in period
dress, enjoy dance demonstrations
by the Huntsville Swing Dance Club,
and marvel at the antique cars exhibit
–  including cars from the 1920s
and 1930s, and featuring a 1920s
fire engine from the Huntsville Fire
Department!  This event is sponsored
by the Huntsville Public Library.
April 1-30
Spring Festival of Flowers presented
to you by the Huntsville Botanical
Gardens. Tens of thousands
of blooming tulips, daffodils,
dogwoods, azaleas & a breathtaking
wildflower trail welcome spring in a
spectacular show. The Gardens are
located at 4747 Bob Wallace Ave.
April 1
The Tennessee Valley Vipers kickoff
their 2006 season at the VBC Arena.
They are going up against the
Memphis Xplorers. If you can stand
the fast pace, Arena football is for
you. Kickoff at 7:30.
If you have an event that you would
like for us to list, send information to
[email protected]
THE VALLEY PLANET
Tuna, Art, and
Barf?
By Jennifer Roberts
T
he Flying Monkey will host
a diverse trio of events on
Saturday, April 8. To begin the
day, local and out-of-town artists are
invited to set up booths to sell their
work and network with potential buyers
and other artists at the Monkey’s Artist
Market. The market will be held the
second Saturday of each month. Art,
jewelry, and vintage clothing will also
be available from the Monkey’s own
vendors. The admission is free to the
public. The market will be open from
noon until six. To reserve a booth,
contact [email protected],
or follow the calendar link at
www.flyingmonkeyarts.org.
In the evening, the Monkey will feature
the music The TunaHelpers, an allfemale trio from Austin, Texas who—
along with their musical act—perform
American sign language and puppet
skits. For more information about the
group’s music and a number of very
vivid and entertaining reviews of their
work, visit www.thetunahelpers.org.
Don’t miss the all-new BARF!, an
over-the-top, late night entertainment
show that will be, in creator and host
Daniel Scott’s words, “a crazy party
with games, talking, lots of audience
participation, and prizes.”
Local
character Jane Haithcock will co-host.
Past guests on the show have included
columnist Ricky Thomason and WLRH
host Beth Norwood. BARF! is for
mature audiences.
EVENTS
April 2
The Valley Conservatory’s Lyceum
Series presents pianist, Erica Suh,
and soprano, Debra Saylor in recital
beginning 4:30 p.m. The recital takes
place at the Roberts Recital Hall,
which is on the campus of UAH.
This event is free and open to the
public.  For more information call
256-534-3131.
April 3
Coffeetree Books and Brew,across
experts 6-10pm.
April 5
with us!
April 6th
Bike Night sponsored by KC’s
Powersports and Rocket City
Powersports at Sammy’s Sportsbar
and Steakhouse.  All motorcycle
riders age 19 years of age and older
are invited to this free event.  Join
THE VALLEY PLANET
The doors will open at 9 pm for The
TunaHelpers and BARF! Admission
for both shows is $5.
The Flying Monkey is located at Lowe
Mill, 2211 Seminole Drive.
Southerners to March
Submitted By Ann Mauner
M
arch 19 is the third anniversary
of
President
Bush’s
unprovoked attack on Iraq and
the beginning of the brutal occupation
of that country which continues today.
As that milestone arrives, millions of
people around the world will again
mount massive protests against the
war.
Teye and Belen
By Jennifer Roberts
D
on’t miss the flamenco guitar
and dance ensemble of Teye
and Belén at the Flying Monkey
on Saturday, March 25. Tickets are $7.
The show starts at 7:30 pm.
A Dutch man named Teye and his
Spanish dancer wife Belén met in
Sevilla, in southern Spain, while
he was pursuing studies in guitarra
flamenca with local masters. The
couple formed an ensemble and moved
to Austin. They are currently touring
throughout Texas with their latest
release, the critically acclaimed album
“FlamencObsesionArte.”
For more information, visit their web
site at www.teyeandbelen.com.
The Flying Monkey is located at Lowe
Mill, 2211 Seminole Drive.
us from 7pm to 9pm for prizes,
food specials and fun.    For more
information, contact Jill at 256-6501177.
April 6
The Spellbinders presents Story
Night at Coffeetree, Books and Brew
on Bailey Cove Rd.  Tales told,
funny, true, historic and just good
stories beginning at 7pm.
April 6-8
Bob Jones High School production
of “Hello Dolly” will begin at 7pm
in the school’s Zompa Auditorium.
Tickets are $7 for students and $10
for adults.
April 7
The Huntsville Museum of Art’s Free
First Friday.
April 7
Women’s Guild Backers of
Bacchus Ball, at the Ledges on
Cecil T. Ashburn Dr. Begins at
7pm. For more information contact
[email protected].
April 7
Monkey Speak is spoken word open
mic. Readers of poetry, short stories
and more are invited to participate.
Admission is $5 and will be at the
Flying Monkey Art Center in the
#032306041206
We are also approaching another
anniversary.  On April 4, 1968,
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was
assassinated.
Dr. King clearly saw the toll that
aggression abroad took on social
programs at home.  “I knew that America
would never invest the necessary
funds or energies in rehabilitation of
its poor so long as adventures like
Vietnam continued to draw men and
skills and money like some demonic,
destructive suction tube,” He said in
his famous speech April 4, 1967 at
Riverside Church, New York City.
Unique among the thousands of
expected protests, the April 1 date of the
Southern Regional March in Dr. King’s
home city was chosen because it falls
between these two anniversaries, to
once again highlight the incompatibility
between imperialist war abroad and Dr.
King’s vision of social justice at home.
Marchers will gather at the King Center
at noon and step off at 1 p.m. for a 2mile walk to Piedmont Park via Jackson
Lowe Mill on Seminole Dr. *For
Mature Audiences
April 7
Sacred Harp Singing at the Madison
Baptist Church on the Burritt on the
Mountain grounds from 7-8:30pm.
Free Admission.
April 8 & 9
Burritt on the Mountain Spring Farm
Day – Come enjoy our barnyard
guest along with storytelling, music
and other activities related to the
farm. Sat, 10-4 and Sun 1-4pm.
Street, Boulevard, Ponce de Leon
Avenue and Charles Allen Drive.
Organizers plan a colorful, vibrant
march with puppets, street theater and
drummers along the route. It is rumored
that clones of Bush and Cheney will
join the festivities. Banners and signs
will demand “Bring the Troops Home
Now.”
Civil and Human Rights for All,
“People Before Profits” and other
messages consistent with peace in Iraq
and justice at home.
Speakers at the ensuing two-hour rally
in Piedmont Park will include U.S.
Rep. John Conyers of Michigan; Dr.
Joseph Lowery, former president of
SCLC and convenor of the Coalition
for the People‚s Agenda; U.S. Rep.
Cynthia McKinney; Ann Wright,
former U.S. Army colonel and diplomat
who resigned in opposition to the Iraq
war; Damu Smith, cofounder of Black
Voices for Peace; Dr. Barbara L. King,
pastor of Hillside Chapel and Truth
Center; and Patricia Roberts, Gold Star
Families for Peace, mother of the first
Georgian killed in Iraq.
Other speakers will include veterans,
military family members, religious
leaders, college and high school
students, New Orleans residents, and
a former Navy recruiter who is now a
counter-recruitment activist.
Musicians and poets will round out the
program.  
 
April 8
Artist Market-Local artists and others
are invited to set up a booth at the
Flying Monkey Arts Center and sell
their wares to the public. There will
be art, jewelry,
vintage clothing, and more
interesting things for sale inside our
facility - safe from rain, heat or cold.
Come and show your support for
Huntsville’s local artists and creative
merchants. BUY SOME STUFF!
Starts at High Noon!
April 8
Huntsville Museum of Art hosts
the Women’s Guild Wine Tasting at
7pm. For more information contact
[email protected].
April 8
BARF! Think Conan O’Brian meets
Bill Nye The Science Guy meets
Psycho TV. For Mature Audiences.
At the Flying Monkey Art Center
in the Lowe Mill on Seminole Dr.
Admission $5.
April 8
Tim’s Cajun Kitchen Annual
Crawfish Festival at the VBC South
Hall. Fun for the whole family.
Zydeco music and great crawfish
what more could you ask for. 4-1am.
April 9
Video Rampage at the Flying
Monkey Art Center in the Lowe Mill
on Seminole Dr. One of the biggest
Video game tournaments around.
Admission is $5 and starts at 6pm.
April 8
Tennessee Valley Vipers versus the
South Georgia Wildcats. Kickoff at
6:30pm at the VBC Arena.
April 10
Coffeetree Books and Brew, across
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4
Continued Page 22
21
Giving it Up
E
EVENTS
experts 6-10pm.
April 12
with us!
April 13
ROMEO’S dinner at the Coffeetree
Books and Brew, across from
Grissom High at 6pm.
April 13
Bike Night sponsored by KC’s
Powersports and Rocket City
Powersports at Sammy’s Sportsbar
and Steakhouse.  All motorcycle
riders age 19 years of age and older
are invited to this free event.  Join
us from 7pm to 9pm for prizes,
food specials and fun.    For more
information, contact Jill at 256-6501177.
April 15
Zydeco Dance lessons at UAH from
1-3pm. Contact Dave Roberts at
256-858-5841 for more info or go to
www.uah.edu/danceclub.
April 21
HSO Guild’s Crescen-Dough Auction
to be held at the VBC beginning at
5:30pm. This year’s theme is “Viva
Hunts Vegas!”. Tickets include
dinner and entertainment. For ticket
iformation or invitation contact
Becky at 256-539-4818.
very Lent, I do a great job of
giving up something – typically
fast food or chocolate have made
their way out of my diet. However,
healthy foods are now the focus of
my eating, so I rarely enjoy much of
either. As a result, I decided this year
I’d put myself up for a real challenge.
Around 12:26 a.m. on Wednesday,
March 1, the ultimate sacrifice came
to my mind: go without television for
Lent. The challenge among challenges!
But ultimately a reward in and of itself.
I’d no longer worry who was in or out
on the runway, Meredith’s sleeping
arrangements wouldn’t be part of my
regular conversations, and I’d have
countless hours to dedicate to real
things. Everything would get in order:
the house, my life, my bedroom closet.
I wouldn’t just be giving up television;
I’d be gaining so much time. I would
be one of those selfless people that are
dedicated to improving the world. Yes,
this Lent it wasn’t going to be easy. But
I believed I could do it.
As I made the grand announcement to
my friends, one asked me what Lent is
about, Why do people give things up?
My mother was raised Catholic, but
decided to raise her children Lutheran
(to spare us the guilt she says). I
did some research and according to
wikipedia.org, Lent is made up the 40
days leading up to Easter Sunday, which
are marked by fasting, both from foods
and festivities, and by other acts of
penance. Lent is a season of sorrowful
reflection.
...Life
without
television...
only one hour a week. That’s nothing at
which to gawk. Along came the end of
the work day. Fat Tuesday’s follies were
still disrupting my circulatory system.
While I usually head to the gym – it
was out of the question. But I couldn’t
go home; the temptation would kill me.
Instead I did some driving and dialing:
calling friends for solid advice while on
a pointless tour of town.
We agreed: giving up TV was an
outlandish goal. Making that goal after
several hours of drinking and indulging
in things I’d rather not discuss:
completely stupid.
My life without TV lasted a mere 15
hours. Of that time, I was at work
for nearly eight hours and asleep for
another five. In all honesty, there was
no way I could last without television.
I’m not very disappointed in myself for
failing. I am impressed that I believed
whole-heartedly that I could achieve
such a lofty goal. And that’s something
you should never give up.
Life without television – that
would surely be a season of sorrow.
Nonetheless, I set out to challenge
myself. As I crawled out of bed on
Ash Wednesday, a mere six hours after
crawling in, I prepared for work in a
quite house. I once greeted the day
with Katie and Matt, instead, that day
it was greeted with music. Rather than
drying my hair in front of the television,
I did it while reading. Off to conquer
the world I went, not knowing what
big stories had broken over night. I
declared my pledge to my co-workers.
Some chuckled, others were impressed.
None thought I could make it.
As the day progressed and the sins of Fat
Tuesday worked their way through my
body, I began to negotiate with myself.
I’d given months to Project Runway.
It can’t end without me in the viewing
audience. Okay, I was allowed to watch
22
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4
#032306041206
Allison Gregg is an eternal optimist who has never
had it so good. Email Allison at
[email protected].
THE VALLEY PLANET
Good Book Into A Bad
Habit...That’s Punny
By Liv Lanier
Y
ou want to know what I
think makes a city? Art.
Music. Conversation, culture,
education, a sense of community. To
me, Huntsville is one of those cities that
is perpetually on the brink for hitting it
big according to my list. A coffee shop
will open, excitement brews and they
even put a couch in there and, huh?they decide to close at 5. (Or 2 friggin‚
o’ clock on a Saturday, what’s up?)
Let me go ahead and state for the record
that I am not speaking of bars as a
place of culture and conversation. And
I think all of you are smart enough that
I don’t have to waste my word count on
reasons why.
The first I heard of The Burning Nun,
they were selling T-shirts and the like at
a media event at UAH. The shirts read “I
Read Banned Books.” Excited because
indeed I do, I dug deep even though
I knew I only had plastic. No shirt,
but I did score this handy little flyer
reminding me to check out The Burning
Nun. I looked at the bottom and low
and behold, their hours were listed. My
first clue as to my endearment of this
newfound place was the closing time
listed on said flyer- “?”They closed at
question mark. I can dig it.
Some time later, I procured a spare
hour or two to head down there. Upon
walking in, the first thing that struck me
was that the place looked exactly like
my apartment, but on a larger scale,
minus three cats, add a dog. Suffice to
say it’s homey. I roamed around, cup
of hot tea in hand, looking at the funky
art on the wall, not watching where I
was going, when I almost tripped over
something. Looked down, and I’ll be
danged if there wasn’t a box of vinyl at
my feet. I scored. Joni Mitchell album
tucked safely under my arm, I headed
home.
I was driving home from work one day
when I heard on NPR that there would be
a reading at the Burning Nun. A woman
who had gone undercover in Burma to
get the 411 on all the mishappenings
would be reading from her book. Hey,
something to do on a Monday night and
it sounds interesting? I’m there. Well I
THE VALLEY PLANET
was. Even though the subject was anger
inciting, I still came away with a warm
and fuzzy feeling because people came
out to listen. Normally, I would spend
my Monday nights at home listening
to the calming sounds of my upstairs
neighbor’s stomps and music, but here
was a chance to get out, learn a thing or
two and maybe speak with someone else
eager to learn and converse. Perhaps
they too were escaping their ‘stomper’
and we could chew the fat.
My last tale of bad habits‚ is movies. I
don’t own a TV, so watching a movie
is always a big production with me,
meaning I have to score a TV first. So
I’m at the Burning Nun, having another
look-see, when I notice a few DVD’s
lying around. I inquire of my friendly
owner, Chris, “Dude? Does that mean
we can check out movies as well?” In
answer to my question, friendly owner
guy mashes a button, and down drops
a freakin‚ projector screen. As if I
weren’t in love with the place already,
the deal was sealed when I heard,
“Drop by Thursday and I’ll put in some
Kubrick.” (As in Stanley. The Shining.
Clockwork Orange. Full Metal Jacket.
Genius). I signed up for a membership
milliseconds later. I am now, and god
willin’, always will be a proud, cardcarrying member of the Burning Nun.
The following Thursday, I viewed
2001: A Space Odyssey with bells on
and a bottle of wine. Righteous.
I have to close with a profession of
my overall joy and giddiness at the
conglomeration of that which is The
Burning Nun, The Flying Monkey,
Swoop, and all of what comprises Lowe
Mill. When they (you know them) built
that huge hotel practically on top of
the pond in Big Springs Park, I had to
wince. I mean, come on, use the old,
empty buildings! Lowe Mill, previously
an empty pile of bricks, is now a place
of community, art, books, conversation
and a few surprises (anyone besides
me see the Sex Workers Art Show?). I
can walk into the Burning Nun and be
comforted by the fact that not only I
read the madness that is Bukowski. The
Burning Nun. Making good books bad
habits. And I didn’t even mention the
scooters. Cheers, guys for doing what
you do. I’ll see you there.
#032306041206
“What If God Was
One of Us?”
G
enesis (the Bible book, not
Phil Collins’ old group) has
always presented a conundrum
to people of faith, at least to those who
refuse to take The Big Book literally. It’s
difficult to reconcile the deeply moral
and ethical codes that have so shaped
Western Civilization with simplistic
tales of fruit, ribs, talking snakes and
God strolling through the garden.
But local playwright Chuck Puckett
hasn’t let a little thing like a conundrum
daunt him. Instead, he’s embraced it,
and used that paradox to write “Tell
Me Why”, which will be presented for
two performances only on Renaissance
Theatre’s Mainstage, April 7th and 8th
at 7:00 PM.
Styled as a “metaphysically conceited
comedy”, the play is an irreverent
retelling of the first few chapters of
Genesis, with Moses writing things
down as events unfold (Moses is
credited with writing the first five books
of the Bible. “Tell Me Why” reveals
how he was able to do that, even though
major episodes happened way before he
arrived on the scene). There are more
than a few jabs at some of the more
outlandish portions of the tale (that
business about the rib, for instance).
The play also examines some fairly
complex issues, as well: the problem
of free will, the existence of evil, and
why teenagers were such a perfect
punishment for humankind.
The comedy ranges from intricate
wordplay to outright Marxian (the
Brothers, not the economist) farce. But
there are also moments of stark and
heartfelt emotion, and the second act
takes on a much darker complexion.
“‘Tell Me Why’ is not an easy play,”
says Puckett. “Theatre-goers will need
to come with not only an open mind, but
definitely be prepared to give things a
bit of thought.”
“Tell Me Why” actually premiered in
a coffee house (Berkeley Bob’s Coffee
House) in Cullman, March 10th and
11th. “My band, Bimini Road, have
played there regularly for a few years,”
said Chuck. “Bob Keefe came up to
see me in “King Lear” at RT, and we
got to talking about doing a play at his
place. Then I noticed that Bob (Baker,
of Renaissance) had an open weekend
in April, and I approached him about
doing the play, and, voila! We had got a
touring company!”
Director Carol Puckett relates that the
Cullman production was a definite
challenge. “We had to take our theatre
with us, like gypsies, and set it up
for dress rehearsal, take it down so
Bob could sell coffee the next day,
then set everything back up for each
performance. It will be a real pleasure
to do the show at Renaissance, with a
real stage.”
“Tell Me Why” does deal with mature
and sometimes complex themes, and is
not suitable for young children.
Performances will be held on the
Alpha Stage At Renaissance Theatre
at 1214  Meridian Street, Huntsville,
Alabama. (Next To Lincoln Elementary
School.) Tickets are $14 for the show
only.
Tickets
may
256.536.3117
be
reserved
at
Reservations strongly advised.
More information can be found at
www.renaissancetheatre.net
Renaissance Theatre is a 501(c)(3)
organization.
Ask about Group Discounts and Dinner
& Theatre events.
The production is very much a family
affair. The author’s wife, Carol Puckett,
directs, and Chuck plays God. “An
interesting conceit right there,” said
Carol. His brother Jerry plays Moses,
and daughter Ruthie plays Lucy, who is,
shall we say, not a nice being. Rounding
out the cast are Nathan Gillikin as
Adam and Sarah Miller as Eve. “We
have always considered theatre as our
family’s quality time,” says Puckett.
“Our youngest daughter Lily is also
the stage manager.” Puckett has written
several plays and musicals that have
been produced in Decatur, Pulaski,
Florida and Wisconsin, “and Carol has
directed almost all of them. It’s a very
intense relationship that we have, and
very productive.”
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4
23
LISTINGS
[email protected]
MAMA ANNIE’S
4550 Meridian Street N, 489-3275
801 FRANKLIN
801 Franklin Street, Huntsville (Downtown by
Medical Center), 256-519-8019. Lunch: M-F 11-2,
Dinner: M-W 5-10 pm & Th-Sa 5 pm-1 am. Lounge
opens 4 pm M-F. Full Bar & Extensive Wine List.
www.801franklin.com
BEAUREGARD’S (3 Huntsville locations)
1851 University Dr. , 256-512-0074
511 Jordan Lane, 256-837-2433
975 Airport Rd. SW, 256-880-2131
BENNIGAN’S
1009 Memorial Pkwy, Huntsville, 256-534-6141
www.bennigans.com
BISTRO LA LUNA
Covenant Cove Lodge & Marina, 7001 ValMonte Drive, Guntersville, 256-582-0930.
www.covenantcove.com
BONEFISH GRILL
4800 Whitesburg Dr. , 256-883-0643
BUFFALO WILD WINGS
2750 Carl T. Jones Dr.
256-650-4115
CHEF GREEN’S ON THE FOUNTAIN
Fountain Row
Huntsville, Al 35801
CHILI’S (2 Huntsville locations)
4925 University Drive, 256-722-9620
2740 Carl T. Jones, 256-882-1230
CRAWMAMMA’S
5000 Webb Villa, Guntersville, 256-582-0484
D&L BISTRO
7500 SW Memorial Pkwy, Huntsville,
256-881-7244, located in Main St. South
THE DOCKS
Goosepond Colony, 417 Ed Hembree, Scottsboro,
256-574-3071.
EDEN’S EAST
2413-B Jordan Lane, Huntsville, 256-721-9491
Vegetarian fare, M-Thu: 11am-6 pm; Fri: 11am-3pm
FURNITURE FACTORY BAR & GRILL
619 Meridian Street N, Huntsville (just north of
Downtown), 256-539-8001.
GREEN HILLS GRILLE
5100 Sanderson Street NW, Huntsville (corner of
Wynn and University), 256-837-8282.
HUMPHREY’S BAR & GRILL
109 Washington Street, Huntsville (Downtown,
corner of Washington and Clinton), 256-704-5555.
11 am – 2 am everyday.
www.downtownhuntsville.com
Live music almost every night – SEE CALENDAR
JAZZ FACTORY
109 North Side Square, Huntsville (Downtown on
the Square), 256-539-1919.
K C’s COYOTE CAFE
410 Old Town St., Guntersville, 256-582-1676
LE BISTRO DU SOLEIL
300 Franklin Street, Huntsville (Downtown on the
Square), 256-539-7777
LOGAN’S ROADHOUSE (2 Huntsville locations)
4249 Balmoral Drive, Huntsville, 256-881-0584
University Drive NW, Huntsvile
2315 Beltline SW, Decatur, 256-432-2746
MAIN STREET CAFE
101Main Street, Madison, 461-8096
THE PALATTE’ CAFÉ
Huntsville Museum of Art
300 Church St.
PAULI’S BAR & GRILL
7143-C Hwy 72 W, Huntsville (corner of Slaughter
Road & Hwy 72), 256-722-2080.
PAULI’S CHOPHOUSE
109 Washington Street, Huntsville (Downtown,
corner of Clinton and Washington), 256-704-5555.
M-Th 5 – 10 pm, F-Sat 5 – 11 pm, Sun 11 am – 2
pm. www.downtownhuntsville.com
PRINCETON’S CEDAR MILL GRILLE
1208 Beltline SW, Decatur, 256-351-6247
SILVER POINT RESTAURANT
7840 Hwy 72 Madison, 856-895-3343
STARFISH
Corner of Pratt & Russell, Huntsville, 256-327-5555
T-BIRDS CAFE
1792 Hwy. 72 East, Huntsville, 256-852-9191.
TGI FRIDAY’S
4935 University Drive NW, Huntsville
256-830-2793, www.tgifridays.com
TOP O’ THE RIVER
7004 Val-Monte, Guntersville, 256-582-4567
WILD FLOUR BISTRO
600 Jordan Lane NW, Huntsville (shopping center,
corner of Holmes and Jordan). 256-536-0939.
WINGS SPORTS GRILLE
4250 Balmoral Dr. SW, Huntsville, 256-881-8878.
www.wingssportsgrille.com
ALABAMA BREAD COMPANY
975 Airport Rd., Huntsville, 256-882-2010.
CAFE BABA
5000 Whitesburg, Huntsville, 256-519-2323.
CAFE DOMAIN
6585 Hwy 431 S, Ste. C, Huntsville, 256-882-6747
COFFEE CREATIONS
616 HWY 31, S ATHENS, AL 35611
COFFEE AND TEA COMPANY
Madison Square Mall University Dr.
Huntsville 256-837-7085
COFFEE TREE BOOKS & BREW, THE
7900 Bailey Cove Rd., Huntsville, 256-880-6464
HIGHLANDER COFFEE SHOPPE
Bob Wallace Ave
JAMO’S CAFÉ
413 Jordan Lane NW, Huntsville, 256-837-7880.
JAVA JAAY CAFE
1713 6th Ave. SE, Decatur, 256-351-8555.
KAFFEEKLATSCH
103 Jefferson Street, Huntsville, 256-536-7993.
KENNY MANGO’S COFFEE SHOP & GALLERY
119 N Side Square, Huntsville, 256-755-6559.
LAGNIAPPES COFFEE CAFE
119 East Moulton, Decatur
Coffee, Espresso, Bakery & Deli.
OLDE TOWNE COFFEE SHOPPE
511 Pratt Ave NE, Huntsville, 256-539-5399
SEATTLE SOUTH
2113 Whitesburg Drive S, Huntsville,(Whitesburg
Medical District), 256-534-0513
WEST SIDE COFFEE PLACE & CAFE
2699B Sandlin Rd., SW, Decatur, 256-353-2025
WILD ROSE CAFE
121 North Side Square, Huntsville, 256-539-3658
CAJUN CAFE
704 Hwy 231 Lacey’s Spring 256-650-5586
PO BOY FACTORY
815 Andrew Jackson Way, Huntsville (in Five
Points) 256-539-3616.
TIM’S CAJUN KITCHEN
114 Jordan Lane, Huntsville, 256-533-7589.
PAPOU’S
110 South Side Square, Huntsville, 256-534-5553
Greek Restaurant, Lunch & Dinner, Full Bar.
SAZIO
Corner of Pratt & Russell, Huntsville, 256-327-5555
Mediterranean Cuisine, Full Bar, Patio Dining
BELLACINO’S PIZZA & GRINDERS (3 locations)
4851 Whitesburg Dr, 256-880-8656
8572 Madison Blvd, Madison, 256-774-1918
11700 N So Memorial Pkwy, Huntsville, 256-6504648
BIG ED’S PIZZERIA
721 Clinton Avenue, Huntsville, 256-536-2872
CHEEBURGER, CHEEBURGER (3 locations)
5000 Whitesburg Dr., Huntsville, 256-885-3700
300 Hughes Rd, Madison, 256-464-9990
Providence Main, Huntsville
DUFFY’S DELI
2324 Whitesburg, Huntsville, 256-533-4179
McALLISTER’S DELI (2 Huntsville locations)
4800 Whitesburg Drive S, 256-880-1557 and
1480 Perimeter Pkwy, 256-425-0034. Appetizers,
Salads, Sandwiches, Spuds & Desserts. Kid’s Menu.
TONY’S ITALIAN DELI
119 James Madison Drive SW
Huntsville, 256-772-4448
SCHLOTZSKY’S DELI (2 Huntsville locations)
4319 University Drive NW, 256-830-6400
11120 Memorial Pkwy SW, 256-650-6300
8969 Hwy. 20, Madison, 256-464-5300
SOUL BURGER
2900 Triana Blvd. SW, Huntsville, 256-534-8585
STANLIEO’S SUB VILLA (2 Huntsville locations)
605 Jordan Lane, 256-837-7220
602 Governors Drive, 256-536-6585
TERRY’S PIZZA (3 Huntsville locations)
9034 Memorial Pkwy S, 256-881-5987
3612 Governors Dr, 256-536-3389 and
2514 Memorial Pkwy N, 256-539-3467
BB PERRINS
608 Holly St, NE, Decatur, 256-355-0980
CLEM’S BBQ & FISHERY
3700 Blue Spring Road NW
DREAMLAND
3855 University Dr., Huntsville 256-539-7427
GIBSON BARBECUE (3 Huntsville locations)
3319 Memorial Pkwy., Huntsville, 256-881-4851
8412 Whitesburg Drive, Huntsville, 256-882-0841
735 Hwy 72 E, Huntsville, 256-852-9882
1715 6th Ave., SE, Decatur, 256-350-6969
MERIDIANVILLE BAR-B-QUE
11537 Hwy. 231N., Meridianville, 256-828-3725
OLE HICKORY PIT BBQ
5061 Maysville Road
New Market, 256-859-2824
Smokey’s Barbeque
8073 Hwy 72, W, Madison
256-721-0300
Thomas Pit BBQ
Hwy 72 ,W, Madison
256-837-4900
BLUE PLATE CAFE
3210 Governors Drive, Huntsville, 256-533-8808
ERNEY’S
1605 Pulaski Pike NW
Huntsville, (256) 533-5734
G’S COUNTRY KITCHEN
2501 Oakwood Dr., Huntsville, 256-533-3034
MULLIN’S
607 Andrew Jackson, Huntsville, 256-539-2826
ROLO’S CAFE
505 Airport Rd., Huntsville, 256-883-7656
BANDITO BURRITO (2 locations)
3017 Governors Dr SW, Huntsville, 256-534-0866
208 Main St., Madison, 256-461-8999
CASA BLANCA MEXICAN RESTAURANT
(4 locations)
7830 Hwy 72 W, Ste 230, Madison 256-864-0360
140 Browns Ferry Rd, Madison 256-464-6044
7900 Bailey Cove Rd, Huntsville 256-883-4447
1802 Hwy 72 E, Ste D, Athens 256-771-0130
EL MARIACHI (3 locations)
14450 Hwy 231/431 N Hazel Green, 256-828-1466
1836 Winchester Road, Huntsville 256-851-7255
7193 Hwy 72 W, Madison, 256-890-0900
EL PALACIO
2008 Memorial Pkwy SW, Huntsville 256-539-6075
GARIBALDI’S
2107 Old Blue Spring Rd. Hsv 256-851-7394
GUADALAJARA MEXICAN RESTAURANTS
11208 Memorial Pkwy S, Huntsville
256-882-7311 &
8572 Madison Blvd, 256-774-1401
LA ALAMEDA
3807 University Drive NW
LITTLE ROSIE’S TAQUERIA
4781 Whitesburg Dr S, Huntsville, 256-882-0014
PEPITO’S
3508 Mem. Pkwy. S, Hsv
256-858-0059
QDOBA MEXICAN GRILL
4800 Whitesburg Drive, Huntsville 256-489-1367
ROSIE’S MEXICAN CANTINA
(2 Huntsville locations)
6125 University Drive, 256-922-1001
7540 S. Memorial Pkwy, 256-382-3232
Continued On Page 25
24
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4
#032306041206
THE VALLEY PLANET
LISTINGS
CARRABAS
Parkway Place Mall
ITALIAN PIE
5000 Whitesburg Dr, Huntsville, 256-883-9112
LA STRADA
12824 Hwy 431, Guntersville. European cuisine.
256-582-2250. www.lastradabama.com
LUCIANO
964 Airport Road SW, Huntsville, 256-885-0505
RICATONI’S ITALIAN GRILL
107 N. Court St., Florence, 256-718-1002
ROMANO’S MACARONI GRILL
5901 University Drive, Huntsville, 256-722-4770
TELLINI’S CAFE & GRILL
4855 Whitesburg Dr. Hsv
256-881-9155
EDO JAPANESE RESTAURANT
104 N. Intercom Drive, Madison, 256-772-0360
MIKATO JAPANESE STEAK HOUSE & LOUNGE
4061 Independence Dr. NW, Huntsville, (one block
N. of University on Jordan Ln.), 256-830-1700.
MIKAWA RESTAURANT
1010 Heathland Dr, Huntsville, 256-837-7440.
MIWON JAPANESE RESTAURANT
404 Jordan Lane NW
MIYAKO
10013 South Parkway
256-880-9879
NIKKO JAPANESE RESTAURANT
6565 Hwy. 431, Hampton Cove, 256-536-3690
SHO GUN JAPANESE STEAK & SUSHI BAR
3991 University Drive, Huntsville, 256-534-3000.
TOKYO JAPANESE STEAK HOUSE & SUSHI BAR
1105 Wayne Road, Huntsville, 256-217-1719
MAMA FU’S ASIAN HOUSE
6920 University Dr. Huntsville, 256-830-4433
SURIN OF THAILAND
975 Airport Rd SW, Huntsville, 256-213-9866
THAI GARDEN RESTAURANT
800 Wellman Ave. NE, Huntsville, 256-534-0122
CHINA MOON
11700 S Memorial Pkwy, Huntsville, 256-880-2626
DING HOW II
4800 Whitesburg Dr., Huntsville, 256-880-8883
JADE PALACE
4925 University Drive NW, Huntsville,
256-830-2458
TAI PAN PALACE
2012 Mem. Pkwy, S, Hsv
256-539-5797
DEUTSCHE KUCHE
418 Jordan Lane, Huntsville, 256-534-4807.
Authentic
HILDEGARD’S
2357 Whitesburg Dr., Hsv
256-512-9776
OL HEIDELBERG CAFÉ
6125 University Drive NW E14, Huntsville,
(shopping center next to Rosie’s), 256-992-0556.
TASTE OF D’ISLANDS
2105 Mastin Lake Road, Huntsville, 256-851-9262.
CASA MONTEGO INTERNATIONAL LOUNGE
2117 Jonathan Drive, Huntsville, 256-858-9187.
2ND STREET MUSIC HALL
208 2nd Street, Gadsden 256-547-0010
3RD BASE GRILL
7904 Memorial Pkwy S, Huntsville, 256-882-9500.
ADRIAN’S
1405 Sunset Drive, Guntersville, 256-582-3106
ALLEN’S GRILLE & GROG
9076 Madison Blvd, Madison, 256-772-8514.
THE BARN
2510 Ready Section Road, corner of Pulaski Pike,
Toney
THE VALLEY PLANET
BENCHWARMER FOOD & SPIRITS
2998 University Drive, Huntsville 256-539-6268.
www.benchwarmersportsbar.com.
BENCHWARMER, TOO!
BILLIARD STREET CAFE
BLACK WATER HATTIE’S
10000 S. Memorial Pkwy. 256-489-3333.
BLUE PARROT MARTINI & CIGAR LOUNGE
7001 Val-Monte Drive, Covenant Cove Resort,
Guntersville, 256-582-0930.
www.covenantcove.com/parrot.htm
BOBBY G’S PLACE
1009 Henderson Road, 256-837-4728
BRICK DELI & TAVERN, THE
209-A 2nd Ave. SE, Decatur
256-355-8318.
CHARLOTTE’S PLACE
1117 Jordan Ln.
CHIPS & SALSA CANTINA
10300 Bailey Cove Rd SE Huntsville, 256-880-1202.
CLUB MIRAGE
4701 Meridian Street, Huntsville, 256-851-2920.
COPPER TOP BAR & GRILL
200 Q Oakwood Ave., Huntsville, 256-536-1150
Formerly Zesto’s in Five Points. Appetizers,
sandwiches & more. Karaoke & Live Music
CORNER GRILL & PUB, THE
(2 Huntsville locations)
10300 Bailey Cove Road SE, 256-880-2103.
129-A Old Highway 431,Hampton Cove
CROSSROADS, THE
721 Clinton Ave, Huntsville, 256-533-3393. Live
Music 7 nights. www.crossroadsmusic.biz
END ZONE, THE
FINNEGAN’S PUB
3310 Memorial Pkwy S, Huntsville, 256-881-9732
FREDDY’S
4070 Mem. Pkwy South Huntsville 35802
256-880-2590
Corner of Golf Rd. & The Paekway
New Restaurant with a New Attitude!
FURNITURE FACTORY BAR & GRILL
619 Meridian Street N, Huntsville (just north of
Downtown), 256-539-8001.
HARD DOCK CAFE
3755 U.S. Hwy. 31, Decatur, 256-340-9234
HALF TIME BAR AND GRILL
8873 Highway 72 W, Madison, 256-430-0266
HOG WILD SALOON
2407 Memorial Pkwy, Huntsville, 256-533-7446
HOOTERS
HOPPER’S
Holiday Inn-Research Park, 5903 University Drive,
256-830-0600
HUMPHREY’S BAR & GRILL
109 Washington Square, Huntsville, 256-704-5555.
Beef, seafood, sandwiches. Come for the food
– Stay for the Fun. Best Patio in Huntsville. Happy
Hour every day 11 am – 6 pm. Live music every
night, no cover. Open 11 am – 2 am everyday.
INSOMNIA
6402 Hwy 72, W
JEMISON’S EATERY & PUB
350-A Market St. NE, Decatur, 256-351-0300.
JUDGE CRATER’S PUB & GRILL
110 Southside Square, Huntsville 256-534-6116
KAFFEEKLATSCH @NIGHT
Live Music nightly.
THE MAIN OFFICE
Hwy 231/431, Hazel Green, 256-829-9100
MARTINI’S OF MADISON
Ramada Inn, 8716 Madison Blvd, Madison,
256-772-0701.
MOODY MONDAYS
718 Church St, Huntsville, 256-533-4005
NIKKO JAPANESE RESTAURANT
6565 Hwy. 431, Hampton Cove, 256-536-3690
OTTER’S
Marriott Hotel, 5 Tranquility Base, Huntsville
256-830-2222.
#032306041206
PHILBY’S POURHOUSE
PINHOOK CREEK YACHT CLUB
2704 Johnson Road, Huntsville, 256-880-3714.
ROSEBERRY PUB & GRILL
Hwy 67 Scottsboro
256-574-4231
RUGGBY’S
SAMMY’S LIVE
2322 Memorial Parkway, S
SAMMY T’S MUSIC HALL
116 Washington Street, 256-539-9974.
www.sammytsplace.com
SANDY’S ROADHOUSE
12740 Hwy. 431 S, Guntersville, 256-571-0450.
THE SHACK
105 Swancott Road, Triana 256-461-0227. The bar
that never closes!
SPORTS PAGE LOUNGE & DELI
9009 Memorial Pkwy S, Huntsville, 256-880-9471.
THE STATION
8694 Madison Blvd., Madison, 256-325-1333.
STEVE’S BILLIARDS & LOUNGE
2322 Memorial Pkwy, Huntsville, 256-539-8919.
TABU & THE VIP ROOM
7200 Governors West, Huntsville, 256-830-1233.
www.theentertainmentcomplexhsv.com
TWILIGHT ZONE
2140 Gunter Ave. in the Holiday Inn,Guntersville,
256-582-2220
UPSCALE
2021 Golf Rd, Huntsville, 256-881-8820
www.clubupscale.com
VISIONS
6404 University Dr. NW, Huntsville, 256-722-8247
WINGS SPORTS GRILLE
4250 Balmoral Dr. SW, Huntsville, 256-881-8878.
www.wingssportsgrille.com
5 POINTS GALLERY
401 Pratt Ave. NE, 256-539-9658
801 FRANKLIN
801 Franklin Street, Huntsville, (Downtown by
Medical Center), 256-519-8019. Dine with fine art.
www.801franklin.com.
ATHENS ST. STUDENT UNION ART GALLERY
300 N. Beaty St., Athens, Athens State University,
800-522-0272
ARTISTIC IMAGES
2115 Whitesburg Drive, Huntsville, 256-534-3968.
www.artisticimagesgallery.com
CAROLE FORET FINE ART
206 West Market St., Downtown Square, Athens
256-232-2521. www.caroleforet.com
DRAGONFLY GALLERY & DESIGN
125 Main Ave. S., Fayetteville, TN, 931-433-3024
HUNTSVILLE ART LEAGUE GALLERY
3005 L&N Drive, Suite 2, Huntsville, 256-534-3860.
Monday-Saturday 10 am - 6 pm; Sunday 1-4 pm.
www.huntsvilleartleague.org.
HUNTSVILLE MUSEUM OF ART
300 Church Street So. in Big Spring International
Park, Huntsville. Gen. admission fee is $7 for nonmembers. Discounts for seniors over 60, military,
students with a valid ID, and groups of 10 or more.
Admission is half-price for non-members on Thurs
nights. Members & children <6 free. Hours 1-5pm.
Sunday; 10am-5pm. Mon-Sat; extended hours on
Th 5-8 pm. Call 256-535-4350 or
1-800-786-9095, or visit www.hsvmuseum.org.
LADAGE ARTISTRY
321 S. Jefferson, Athens,256-216-0039.
http://ladage.dews.net.
MERIDIAN ARTS (2 locations)
305-A Jefferson Street, Huntsville, 256-534-7475.
M-F: 10 am – 6 pm, Sat: 10 am – 4pm; and
370 Little Cove Road, Gurley, AL, 256-7764300. Tu-F: 10 am – 6 pm, Sat: 10 am – 4 pm.
www.Meridianarts.net.
MONDO DE TATUAGE GALLERY
Corner of 6th Ave. and 7th St., Decatur
256-306-9099.
MVAC FINE ARTS GALLERY
300 Gunter Ave.,Guntersville, 256-582-1454.
Hours: Mon-Fri 9-4, Sat 10-3.
http://mountainvalleyartscouncil.org
SIGNATURE GALLERY
2364 Whitesburg Drive S, Huntsville,
256-536-1960.
TWO FEATHERS NATIVE AMERICAN GALLERY
7529-A S. Memorial Pkwy, Huntsville, 256-8820078.
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4
25
ordering certain sex acts and positions,
complimenting the men’s bodies, and
barking out exhortations for the men to
improve their virility and performances.
Chuck Shepherd, photo Bob
Baggett Photography
Because perhaps hundreds of Japanese
Yakuza gangsters are nearing retirement
age, the Ministry of Health, Labor, and
Welfare has drafted rules for the former
gambling, loan shark, and protection
workers to qualify for benefits, according
to a March dispatch from Tokyo in The
Times of London. Since organized crime
leaves no employment paper trail, exmobsters must supply a letter of retirement
from their crime boss in order to sign up,
although local governments are expected
to accept as partial proof gang tattoos,
criminal records, demonstrations of
missing finger tips (the sign of traditional
Yakuza punishment for mistakes).
Can’t Possibly Be True
Victoria Lundy, 41, in custody in
Chillicothe, Ohio, in January for a
barroom shooting, apparently smuggled
her gun into the jail at the time of her arrest
by putting it inside her vagina. A shot was
fired in a holding cell, and according
to a fellow prisoner interviewed by the
Chillicothe Gazette, the gun had gone off
when Lundy sat down on a bench in the
cell. (No one was hit.)
Among the places of business particularly
affected by Americans’ cell-phone
rudeness was the Green Oaks Family
Dentistry clinic in Arlington, Texas,
according to a February USA Today story.
Office manager Lisa Teague said patients
were carrying on phone conversations
while hygienists worked in their mouths.
“It was very disruptive,” she said.
Chicagoland Schools in Crisis: (1) In
February, a sixth-grader at Waldo Middle
School was suspended and charged with
a felony by Aurora, Ill., police when he
brought powdered sugar to class for a
science project and jokingly told another
student that it was cocaine. A custodian
overheard the conversation and reported
him. (2) The Chicago Tribune reported
in March that dozens of blind students in
Chicago public schools are nonetheless
required to take driver education classes.
One sightless but otherwise optimistic
student told the Tribune she resented
the requirement because it made her
uncharacteristically dwell on something
that she cannot do.
Andrew Thurnheer, 45, was elected in
January as the highway superintendent
in Danby, N.Y., even though he still lives
with his parents. He doesn’t sleep in his
old bedroom, though; he sleeps in his tree
house, 40 feet up, which he built nearly
20 years ago, and which has a generatorpowered elevator, a shower and a propane
heater, according to a January Associated
Press dispatch. (Mr. Kapila Pradhan, also
45, has also been living in a tree, for the
past 15 years, but that is in a village in
Orissa state in India. He sought solitude
after a fight with his wife, according to a
January BBC News dispatch.)
Names in the News
Arrested in February in Town Creek,
Ala., on drug-related charges: University
of North Alabama basketball player
26
Reprobatus Bibbs (“reprobate,” in the
dictionary, is “morally depraved” or
“beyond hope of salvation”). And sought
in a February shooting death in New
Orleans: 20-year-old Ivory Harris, whose
nickname is “Be Stupid.”
Unclear on the Concept
(1) When the U.S. Department of the
Interior was ordered to reimburse lawyers
for American Indians $7 million for their
successful lawsuit over missing royalty
payments on Indian land, the department
decided that budget considerations would
force it to raise almost half of that $7
million by cutting back programs of the
Bureau of Indian Affairs. (2) According to
a November Washington Post poll (whose
results were published in February), 94
percent of Americans said they are “above
average” in honesty, 89 percent “above
average” in common sense, 86 percent
“above average” in intelligence, and 79
percent “above average” in looks.
Bring the Pain
(1) In January in Kyoto, Japan, a 32-yearold nurse was sentenced to more than three
years in prison after she was convicted of
relieving her overwork-induced stress by
tearing off the fingernails and toenails
of immobilized patients. (2) British
dentist Mojgan Azari was de-licensed in
January after a conviction for allowing
her unqualified boyfriend to do fillings on
more than 600 patients. (3) Terra Linda
High School (San Rafael, Calif.) wrestler
D.J. Saint James, a senior, was profiled
in February in the Marin Independent
Journal for his sterling record, including
a freshman match in which he suffered
a ruptured testicle (which eventually
swelled to the size of a fist) but toughed it
out for three minutes before summoning
up an almost-miraculous burst of energy
to pin his opponent.
Cliches Come to Life
Life Imitates a GEICO Commercial:
A teenager lost control of his car in
Kettering, Ohio, in March, and smashed
into a house, causing major damage.
According to police, he had swerved
to avoid hitting an albino squirrel
(which, unlike in the commercial, did
not survive). Another squirrel caused
a four-car collision in March in Mount
Pleasant Township, Pa., but no injuries
were reported. Neither human was cited
by police.
“What She Really Wants to Do Is
Direct”: When Tamara Anne Moonier
filed rape charges against six young men
in Fullerton, Calif., in June 2004, she
seemed the disconsolate victim of vicious
predators. However, shortly afterward,
one of the accused gave police a video
of the entire incident, and Moonier
consequently was indicted in 2005 for
filing a false police report and defrauding
a victim assistance fund. In February
2006, Orange County Weekly published
several pieces of dialogue from the
video and described numerous “scenes”
in which Moonier is shown laughing
(27 different times), dominating action,
Well, Of Course!
(1) Russian president Vladimir Putin
apparently surprised diplomatic observers
in Britain in January when he declined
to expel four U.K. diplomats who had
been accused of espionage. Reasoned
Putin, according to a January dispatch
in Britain’s Guardian, these four weren’t
smart enough to avoid getting caught,
and if he expelled them, the U.K. would
just send replacements who are more
clever. (2) A recent study by economists
Naci Mocan and Erdal Tekin concluded
that unattractive teenagers grow up to
commit more crimes than do attractive
people. A February Washington Post
summary of the research posits that
fewer job opportunities and social
opportunities might be what accounts for
the “consequences of being young and
ugly.”
No Longer Weird
Adding to the list of stories that were
formerly weird but which now occur with
such frequency that they must be retired
from circulation: (77) The disgruntled
debtor who finally agrees to pay, but
obnoxiously delivers it all in pennies,
or in $1 bills, as William Lewis Jr., did
on a foreclosure judgment in Sebring,
Fla., in March. (78) The latest recycling
laboratory breakthrough that makes
possible the conversion of manure,
urine or methane gas into a new energy
source, as was Japanese professor Sakae
Shibusawa’s March announcement that,
by pressure and heat, he can produce an
ounce of gasoline from 5 pounds of cow
dung.
Readers’ Choice
A February BBC News story, citing a local
newspaper in Upper Nile state in Sudan,
reported that village elders had required
a Mr. Tombe, as punishment for having
been caught having sex with a female
goat, to pay a dowry to the goat’s owner
and to care for the nanny as if they were
“married.” (The story ran worldwide,
with Australia’s News Limited’s Web site
reporting it with a file photo of a goat,
adorned with a black bar across its eyes,
to protect its privacy.)
“Reeking” As a Career Field: Homeless
New Jersey man Richard Kreimer said
in February that he had settled, on
undisclosed terms, part of his most recent
lawsuit, against a transit company and
two drivers, for having denied him rides
because of his foul odor. Kreimer’s history
includes a $150,000 settlement in 1991
with the public library in Morris County,
which had tried to keep him out because
of the odor, and, by his count, $80,000 in
additional lawsuit-related income (though
some went for legal expenses). Kreimer
dropped another foul-odor lawsuit in
February, against a transit company and a
train station in Summit.
Cultural Diversity
(1) Health authorities in Thailand began
warning teenage girls in January of the
dental risks of do-it-yourself orthodontics
(colorful metallic teeth braces worn for
fashion to match girls’ outfits, according
to an Associated Press dispatch). (2) In
Lunar New Year celebrations in January in
China, 120 million rural peasants traveled
to and from cities via jam-packed trains,
despite meager restroom facilities. As a
result, according to a Reuters dispatch,
there was a massive holiday run on adult
diapers.
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4
#032306041206
A 300-page indictment detailing more
than 1,000 allegations of election fraud
was returned in February by a grand
jury investigating the coal-mining town
of Appalachia, Va., following reports
of absentee-ballot bribery by two town
officials. Prosecutors accused candidates’
operatives of offering the locals such
goodies as beer, moonshine and cigarettes
and, in one case, a supply of pork rinds.
Good News for College Kids
(1) In January, history professor David
Weale of Canada’s University of Prince
Edward Island offered B-minus grades to
any students in his overcrowded class if
they would just go away, and 20 of the 95
accepted. (However, the administration
found out, and Professor Weale, who
had retired last year but returned to teach
that one course, re-retired.) (2) Former
Fairfield University student William
Rom, 24, won $111,000 from the school
in a February verdict because he was
improperly suspended four years ago. At
the time, Rom was accused of entering
a women’s restroom, fighting, ripping
posters off walls, dumping water on
students from a second floor, smashing
a bathroom mirror, running naked on
campus, and (underage) drinking (and
subsequently vomiting in the dorm.)
School Daze
(1) The head of the Jo Richardson
comprehensive school in Dagenham,
England, prohibits students from raising
their hands in class, according to a January
Daily Telegraph report, to keep those not
called on from feeling “victimi(zed).” (2)
And rules drawn up in February by the
Welsh Assembly called for schools in
Wales to ban all kissing, even in school
plays (but an assembly spokesman said
Romeo could give Juliet “a peck on the
cheek”).
In February, Bolivia’s foreign minister
proposed to include coca leaves as part
of school breakfast programs, noting
that they contain many times more
calcium than does milk (and unless
processed as cocaine, are not mindaltering). And in November, the Coffee
Industry Association of Brazil proposed
to help fund a breakfast program for a
million schoolchildren as young as age 6,
provided that the meal includes coffee.
Home, Sweet Home
Developer Ryan Pedram was finally
ordered to stop work on his new threestory home in the Bronx in New York
City after he had begun building it flush
with a disputed property line, including
constructing one cinder-block wall to
encompass the trunk of an oak tree that
ostensibly belongs to his neighbor. (He
had figured on winning the property
dispute and removing the tree; his plan,
in case of loss, was not reported.) Also,
in Brooklyn, a judge recently allowed
industrialist Simon Taub to install
Sheetrock walls in several rooms in his
home as a temporary solution in a pending
divorce, to allow both husband and wife
to share the house (reminiscent of the
1989 movie “The War of the Roses”).
Send your Weird News to Chuck Shepherd
P.O. Box 18737, Tampa FL 33679
or [email protected]
or go to www.NewsoftheWeird.com.)
COPYRIGHT 2004 CHUCK SHEPHERD
DISTRIBUTED BY
UNIVERSAL PRESS SYNDICATE
4520 Main St., Kansas City, Mo. 64111;
(816) 932-6600
THE VALLEY PLANET
The Valley Planet Music Exchange is FREE to any individual looking to buy, sell, trade or find bandmates. You get a headline and 3 lines of text for the low, low price of
nothing. If you wish to embellish your ad further, say, with a small photo (add $5) or more words (add $1 per line), it’s up to you. Now, if you are a business, you gotta
pay a little something, $12 per column inch. Please call Jill Wood at (256) 533-4613 if you would like to put your business in the Exchange. Email your ads to classifieds
@valleyplanet.com or send them by snail mail to Music Exchange,203 Grove Ave. Huntsville AL, 35801. NO AD WILL RUN UNTIL PAYMENT HAS BEEN RECEIVED!
MUSIC EXCHANGE
Wanted, exp. lead guitarist
Call George @ 337-9856
Professional Drummer
Versatile Styles
Chris @ 227-6490
Torin Asunder
Death Metal Band
Jay @ 783-3176
Wanted, members for a
Christian Band
Contact 256-716-3731 or
[email protected]
CLASSICAL GUITAR
AND LUTE New to
Huntsville; exp teacher/
performer
Michael Poulos, BM, MM
539.6838
DRUMMER
Looking to start or join open
minded musicians to play
prog. Alt-rock 232-7505 &
[email protected]
Wanted, free ads to put here,
send to
[email protected]
Guitarist
Looking For A Band Classic
Rock From A-Z
New Music Too
call Mike@603-7937 or
Leave Message@776-9749
For sale
Audio-Technica Headset
Mic, Model ATM 75-$125,
881-0755
1983 Tama Imperialstar
drumkit Contact Adam
Jackson @ 256-233-2118/
431-5130
[email protected]
WANTED: Upright bass
player for Rockabilly Trio. I
have the bass if you can play
it. Slapping a must. We already have gigs waiting. Call
Matt @ 256-566-6330.
Bassist & drummer for
accoustic/electric band
Rod @ 759-1919
LISTINGS
Billy Joe Cooley
Call Now:
(256) 534-8888
Email:
[email protected]
America’s Storyteller Dates Available for
Banquet Speaker, Humorist Church Groups, Civic Clubs
Billy Joe Cooley, 115 W. Clinton Ave., Suite 405, Huntsville, AL 35801
providing arts and cultural activities to Jackson
County and Northeast Alabama.
VON BRAUN CENTER
700 Monroe St. Huntsville, 256-533-1953. Check
calendar for events. www.vonbrauncenter.com
HARMONY PARK SAFARI
431 Clouds Cove Road, New Hope. 1-8777ANIMAL. Drive through animal exhibits. Open
March through November.
THE WEEDEN HOUSE
300 Gates Avenue SE, Huntsville, 256-536-7718
HARRISON BROTHERS HARDWARE
UNIVERSITY CENTER ART GALLERY
University of Alabama in Huntsville, 256-824-1000
UPTOWN GALLERY
1220 South Memorial Parkway, Huntsville 256880-2044. www.uptowngallery.com
WHITNEY DAVIDSON GALLERY
501 Church Street NW, Huntsville, 256-539-0063
WILLIS GRAY GALLERY
211 B Second Ave. SE, Decatur, 256-355-7616
ALABAMA CONSTITUTION VILLAGE
109 Gates Ave., Huntsville, 256-564-8100. Open
daily, 9 am - 5 pm, except Sundays.
AMERICAN INDIAN MUSEUM
2003 Poole Drive NW, Huntsville, 256-852-4524.
www.american-indian-museum.com
BURRITT ON THE MOUNTAIN:
A LIVING MUSEUM
3101 Burritt Drive SE, Huntsville, 256-536-2882.
Summer Hours (April - Oct): Tues- Sat 9am to 5pm
Sun noon to 5 pm. Regular Adm. fee is $5 adult,
$4 senior, military & students, $3 child (children
under 2, free). www.burrittmuseum.com
CATHEDRAL CAVERNS STATE PARK
637 Cave Road, Woodville. 256-728-8193 Open
daily at 10 am.
CLAY HOUSE MUSEUM
16 Main Street, Madison 256-325-1018. Tour this
antebellum home with “A Walk Through Time”, 100
years of decorative style from 1850 - 1950 featuring Noritake Porcelain.
COVENANT COVE RESORT & MARINA
7001 Val-Monte Drive, Guntersville
256-582-1000 or 888-288-COVE.
www.covenantcove.com
EARLYWORKS MUSEUM COMPLEX
404 Madison Street SE, Huntsville, 256-564-8100.
GORHAM’S BLUFF
Pisgah, 256-451-ARTS. The Gorham’s Bluff
Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to
THE VALLEY PLANET
124 Southside Square, Huntsville, 256-536-3631.
ARS NOVA SCHOOL OF THE ARTS
7908C Charlotte Drive, Huntsville, 256-883-1105.
www.arsnovahsv.com
Alabama’s oldest hardware store.
HUNTSVILLE BOTANICAL GARDEN
4747 Bob Wallace Avenue, Huntsville,
256-830-4447. The 110-acre garden is open yearround. Summer Hours, Memorial Day through
Labor Day: M-Sat, 9am-8pm; Sun, 1–8pm. $8
Adults, $6 Senior or Military, $3 Children ages 318.www.hsvbg.org.
HUNTSVILLE STARS
Joe W. Davis Stadium, 3125 Leeman Ferry Rd,
Huntsville, 256-882-2562.
BROADWAY THEATRE LEAGUE
700 Monroe St. Suite 410, Huntsville
(all performances held at Von Braun Center)
256-518-6155. www.btleague.org
FANTASY PLAYHOUSE CHILDREN’S THEATRE
3312 Long Avenue SW, Huntsville, 256-539-6829
HUNTSVILLE HAVOC
Professional Hockey, Eastern Hockey League. 700
Monroe Street. Huntsville, AL 35801 (256) 5186160.
FLYING MONKEY ARTS CENTER
2211 Seminole Drive, Huntsville, 256-489-7000
Flying Monkey Arts Center is a not for profit
community arts collective that encourages,
supports and promotes the arts. www.flyingmon
keyarts.org
THE LAND TRUST TRAILS
Bankhead Pkwy., Huntsville, 256-534-LAND
Year-round hiking on 547 acres of Monte Sano
preserve. www.landtrust-hsv.org
FOOTLIGHTS COMMUNITY THEATER
302 Hoffman St. Athens, 256-216-0903
www.footlightstheater.org
[email protected]
MONTE SANO STATE PARK
5015 Nolen Ave., Huntsville, 256-534-3757
HUNTSVILLE BALLET COMPANY
800 Regal Drive SW, Huntsville, 256-539-0961
SCI-QUEST
102-D Wynn Drive, Huntsville, 256-837-0606.
An exciting hands-on science center.
www.sci-quest.org
HUNTSVILLE COMMUNITY CHORUS
3312 Long Avenue, Fantasy Arts Center, Huntsville,
256-533-6606
TENNESSEE VALLEY VIPERS
Arena Football, American Conference Southern
Division. 700 Monroe St, Huntsville, VBC, 256-5513240. www.vipersaf2.com
THREE CAVES
Directions: Off California St., turn onto Hermitage,
left onto Kennemer Dr. Call The Land Trust at (256)
534-5263 to reserve your spot on a public cave
tour or to arrange a private tour for your group.
US SPACE & ROCKET CENTER
1 Tranquility Base, Huntsville, 256-837-3400. Open
9am-5pm year round except for Thanksgiving,
Christmas Eve and Day, and New Year’s Eve and
Day. Admissions: Museum only – Adults $12 &
Child 3-12 $8, www.spacecamp.com
#032306041206
HUNTSVILLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
North Side Von Braun Center, Huntsville 256-5394818.
LOWE MILL
2211 Seminole Dr., Huntsville, Art, Music, Film and
Poetry. See Calendar for Event Dates
RENAISSANCE THEATRE AT LINCOLN CENTER
1214 Meridian Street N, Huntsville, 256-536-3434.
www.renaissancetheatre.net
THEATRE HUNTSVILLE
Business Office. 1701 University Dr, Suite 1,
Huntsville, 256-536-0807. www.theatrehsv.org.
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4
27
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