AUGUST 6-12 , 2015 FIREFLY COFFEE HOUSE, UPSHOTT ENTERTAINMENT • PAGE 2 Firefly Coffee House: Best Coffee House Sit, Sip and Soak in the Ambience The success of the Firefly Coffee House can be also consistent. We really pride ourselves on trying traced directly to the travels of its owners. Whether to give you the same drink every time, so when you in Europe or on the coasts, Cyndi and Paul Demaree come back your expectations are met.” sought out places where they felt comfortable just Another intent was to have a space that promoted hanging out. Often that was in a coffee house. community, neighborliness. Paul noticed when they When they settled in Fort Wayne, they wanted to first opened that people would sit away from each find a place that recreated the feeling they got from the other. He acted to changed that. cafes and bistros and coffee houses they’d discovered. “When we opened people’s personal bubbles were But instead of searching for one, huge,” he said. “Like 10-12 feet. So they made a place of their own. if you were sitting here someone else Since opening the Firefly Coffee wouldn’t sit here, it would be more House on North Anthony in 1999 the than likely that they’d sit way over Demarees have discovered that a lot there. Can’t get very many people in of people were looking for the same here with everybody spread out like things they were. And for 12 of those that. So when people would come in, 16 years the Firefly has been voted I’d get a newspaper and sit over there Best Coffee House in the whatzup a little close, throw them a question. readers poll. According to Cyn- Strangers started getting more and di the success of the Firefly de- Paul, Cyndi and more comfortable with each other. rives from their original intent. Allison Demaree They started talking.” “It’s the atmosphere,” she “We were trying to create a com- said. “People seem to love the munity gathering place,” Cyndi add- atmosphere. It’s a feeling that you get when you’re in ed. “We feel very proud that we did that.” another part of the country or even overseas. More of With ample seating at tables, on couches or out- a European feeling or something on the east or west side, the Firefly makes you feel at home. It’s cozy coast. People love the outdoor seating. They can spend without feeling cramped. more time outdoors during our limited summers.” So go ahead. Order another double espresso and But a cool atmosphere would be nothing without drink in the atmosphere. Read a book. Play a game. an engaged staff to make customers feel welcome. Or just reflect on the fact that you can visit a hip cof- “We have great baristas,” she said. “They are fee house without having to book a flight someplace. friendly and try to remember people’s names. They’re (Mark Hunter) Upshott Entertainment: Best Hip-Hop Performer Out to Take Hip-Hop to New Heights Hip-hop often gets a bad rap. The guys in Upshott a song together and after all our input just go wow. are out to change that. That’s pretty classical stuff.” Based in Warsaw, Upshott (and its larger com- “We feed off each other,” added J Don. ponent Upshott Entertainment) comprises a self- Upshott have performed in a wide variety of ven- described band of brothers with the common goal of ues throughout Indiana as well as Chicago. One was taking hip-hop to new venues and new heights. the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds where they rapped They are achieving that aim. between bouts at a professional wrestling event. Whitticus, J Don and “It was Funkdafied S.T.R.E.E.T.S. (Struggles Wrestling Federation,” That Represent Every Whitticus recalled. “We’re Emotion To Survive) have backstage, the wrestlers are reached one new height al- painted up. They’re looking ready, winning the Whammy at us, we’re looking at them. for Best Hip-Hop/Rap Per- Then we hop out there. We former, a first for Upshott won the crowd over. They and a first for a band from weren’t there to see hip-hop. Warsaw. Upshott edged They were there to see wres- Fort Wayne favorites Third tling. Won the crowd over.” Frame by less than two per- The trio will release centage points. Going Against the Grain in Whitticus and J Don had known each other for a August. The title refers to their refusal to follow the long time. S.T.R.E.E.T.S. was new to the scene when current trends in hip-hop. They handle their own re- he moved to Warsaw from the west side of Chicago. cording, production, promoting, merchandising, you But it didn’t take long to figure out he was in the right name it. It’s that approach that gives them freedom place. and feeds their creativity. Rapping is all about the lyrics, the rhymes. If a “There’s more to it than just rhyming a word,” group is not on the same page, it just doesn’t work. Whitticus said. These guys aren’t just on the same page, they’ve dis- “All you need is a mic from Walmart, download pensed with the page altogether. some beats from the internet and you’re a rapper,” “We work well together,” Whitticus said. “I get said J Don. “But that doesn’t mean it’s good.” (Mark into like a zone. I feel like I’m in his head. We put Hunter) 2 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- www.whatzup.com ---------------------------------------------------------------August 6, 2015 whatzup Proudly presents in Fort Wayne, Indiana Volume 20, Number 1 2015 Summer Concert Series • The Foellinger Theater ook right above this line and you’ll notice that this issue launches Volume 20 of whatzup, so it’s fitting that our cover this week features Castle Gallery which is celebrating it’s 20th year with a retrospective (see Heather Miller’s featureL story on page 4). We don’t want to deceive. We lauched Volume 1 Issue 1 on August 1, 1996, so we’re really just turning 19 and the Castle actually has a year on us. Still, how many people figured either of us would still be going strong a couple of decades later? That’s all the horn-blowing we’re going to do about our birthday, though; there’s much more interesting stuff to talk about in this issue. For starters, we continue our “slow reveal” of 2015 Whammy winners, a series that will continue for another eight weeks or so. For a look at where we stands at the present time, go to whatzup.com ON and click Readers Poll Results under the More menu. SALE NOW! Another ongoing series is the Botanical Conservatory’s Botanical Roots Music Series, and Deborah Kennedy profiles JP Harris on page 5 this week. SUNDAY AUGUST 23, 2015 • 7:30 PM But wait, there’s more: not one, but two, local CD reviews; local theater previews &RXQWU\0XVLF/HJHQG (Bat Boy: The Musical) and reviews (A Midsummer Night’s Dream); Amber Foster’s review of The Hoppy Gnome; Greg Locke and Catherine Lee on movies; Nic Braun ON SALE and Chris Hupe on upcoming concerts and events both here and elsewhere; and lots NOW! more. So read on, find the stuff that appeals to you, go do it and tell ’em whatzup sent you. We’ll be right here blowing out candles. GO TO OUR WEBSITE CLINT inside the issue FOR TICKET INFO & MORE • readers poll winners ROAD NOTEZ ................................. 12 BLACKFree Movies ALL SHOWS ALL AGES Tickets The Nut Job Wed June 15 9:00 pm FLIX ................................................ 14 On-line FRIDAY By Phone AUGUSTSurly, a curmudgeon, independent squirrel is28, banished from his 2015 • 7:30 PM Free Movies www.foellingertheatre.org (260) 427-6000 park and forced to survive in the city. Lucky for him, he stumbles Tickets The Nut Job Wed June 15 9:00 pm Paper Towns on the one thing that may be able to save his life, and the rest of IN 46805 Wayne, Fort Blvd. 705 E. State FIREFLY COFFEE HOUSE ........................... 2 park community, as they gear up for winter. PG On-line By Phone Surly, a curmudgeon, independent squirrel is banished from his In Person Foellinger park and forced to survive in the city. Lucky for him, he stumbles Best Coffee House “American Pie”www.foellingertheatre.org (260) 427-6000 SCREEN TIME ...............................14 Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation Department Frozen Wed July 2 9:00 pm on the one thing that may be able to save his life, and the rest of IN 46805 Wayne, Fort Blvd. 705 E. State Cruise Spins More Box Office Gold 705 E. State Blvd., Fort Wayne, IN UPSHOTT ENTERTAINMENT ..................... 2 Sisters Elsa and Anna enjoy an idyllic life in the enchanted park community, as they gear up for winter. PG Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. kingdom ruled by their parents until Elsa’s magical ability to cre- In Person Foellinger Best Hip-Hop Performer ON BOOKS .....................................15 ate ice and snow around her proves a threat to those she loves. Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation Department Frozen Wed July 2 9:00 pm Deep Down Dark Foellinger Theatre Emerging for her own coronation after several years of self- DON705 E. State Blvd., Fort Wayne, IN Sisters Elsa and Anna enjoy an idyllic life in the enchanted 3411 Sherman Blvd., Fort Wayne, IN imposed isolation, Elsa flees in distress when her uncontrollable Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.