JACKSONVILLE ning! ope 2007 happy new year! entertaining u newspaper free weekly guide to entertainment and more | december 28-january 3, 2006 | www.eujacksonville.com 2 december 28-january 3, 2006 | entertaining u newspaper table of contents feature New Years/Gator Bowl...... PAGES 16-19 2006 In Review...... PAGES 20 & 21 movies Winter Movie Preview...... PAGES 6-8 Movies In Theatres This Week...... PAGES 8-11 Seen, Heard, Noted & Quoted...... PAGE 9 Black Christmas (movie review)...... PAGE 10 Subterranean/Film Fest...... PAGE 11 at home High-Tech TV...... PAGE 12 Reality Check (TV Review)...... PAGE 13 Video Games...... PAGE 13 Saban The Ancient (book review)...... PAGE 14 food Chef Suvir Saran...... PAGE 14 Angelo’s...... PAGE 15 music Jekyll Island Bluegrass Fest...... PAGE 22 Music Calendar...... PAGES 22-26 Matt Collins (Pauly’s Pizza)...... PAGE 23 Crossfire Hurricane (Ragusa)...... PAGE 24 Donna The Buffalo (interview)...... PAGE 25 Hank III (album review)...... PAGE 25 arts / theatre / on stage Hands-On Children’s Museum...... PAGE 27 Mark Warren Exhibit (Pepperama)...... PAGE 28 Arts Calendar...... PAGES 27-28 columns and stuff Myspace The New Christmas Card...... PAGE 26 Talk To Me...... PAGE 29 The Jock...... PAGE 29 NASCAR news & notes...... PAGE 30
eujacksonville.com | december 28-january 3, 2006 3 thisweek december 28 - 30 thursday DECember 28 31st Annual New Year’s Bluegrass Festival in Jekyll Island, GA Doodlebops Spend New Years listening to some real Bluegrass from The Doodlebops are a group of colorful, face-painted and wigged Larry Sparks & The Lonesome, The Country Gentlemen, characters that sing and dance, rhyme and joke and even give Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, The Grascals, Cherry lessons to entertain your preschooler. The Doodlebops are definitely Holmes and Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys. the hot group in the preschooler set right now! Much like the Wiggles, Contact the Jekyll Island Convention Center at 706-864- they have taken over many households temporarily. If you have not 7203 for a complete schedule and directions or go to seen them yet, check them out. You will be singing their theme song www.aandabluegrass.com. all day long. Tickets: $30.00 / $26.00 / $18.00 Times Union Center, Moran Theater - 10:30 am and 4:30 pm Johnny Mac w/ Mark Evans Info: 633-6110 Johnny Mac stunned the crowd with his professional approach to comedy and received a standing ovation The AB’s throughout his first weekend at the Atlantic so they quickly resigned him to ensure that ‘06 ends with a smile. Don’t miss mofro! Atlantic Theatres, 751 Atlantic Blvd playing for 3 days at freebird. Info: 249.PLAY (7529) or [email protected] Taigaa! Based out of Brooklyn, Taigaa is a three-piece band with energetic and unique music, drawing from their pre-80s Korean Pop, Punk, friday december 29 Goth and Experimental Pop influences. They say their live act includes “costumes that often times depict animal skulls, exploding Hank and My Honky Tonk Heroes minerals, and dilapidated landscapes” that allude to the world’s largest biome, from which the band got its name. Hank Williams tribute artist Jason Petty takes listeners on an TSI, 333 E. Bay St., Info: 424.3531 “insightful journey” into the life of the hard-livin’ country music icon, paying homage to other country legends like George december 29 - 31 Jones, Jimmie Rodgers and Roy Acuff along the way. Think of it Mofro THE AB’s (formerly known as Asamov) with as a 1940s, Honky Tonk version of Behind the Music. The show Jacksonville’s own Mofro will be performing their front porch blues runs through February 4, Tuesday-Sunday, Alhambra Dinner for three nights. On the 29th they will perform with Gunga Din and Astronautalis, Swordz, and Rob Roy Theatre, 12000 Beach Blvd., $25-$46, Info: 641-1212 on the 30th with the Gamble Brothers Band. Tickets for these shows The AB’s are a creative and refreshing group on the underground are $18, $20 Show Day. On New Years Eve Mofro will be performing urban music scene. With four gifted MCs and two genius producers, The Good Life w/ Band of Destiny and Leon with the Lee Boys. Tickets cost $28 in advance, $30 day of the they tell down-to-earth, authentic stories laid over brilliant show. Freebird Live, Jacksonville Beach. Info: 246-BIRD (2473) soundscapes. With their roots in the music of classic Native Tongues Seymore artists, The AB’s are taking hip-hop music into the future with an Band of Destiny is a group of musicians based out of Florida inspired musical vision and a truly organic chemistry. that began back in 1999. Although, they all have very strong Jack Rabbit’s - 8:00 pm, Tickets: $8 backgrounds in the church, they have a deep love for all styles Info: 398-7496 of music. Leon Timbo began singing at the age of 16 and in his saturday D ecEMBER 30 early 20’s, he picked up piano and acoustic guitar to further november 25 The Wailers his expression of worship through music. Hosted by Uptown Saturday Night in St. Augustine The Wailers nokturnalescape. Boomtown Subterreana, 140 Monroe The Wailers, the most recognized Enjoy extended shopping hours, live entertainment and book signings Street - 7:30 pm Info: 626.2812 ‘reggae’ group in the world, now as the quaint shops along San consist of original members who Marco Ave. in St. Augustine extend recorded and/or toured with Bob Dang!, Dash Rip Rock, Hand of the their hours for an evening of Marley and the Wailers. Aston Host, Honey Culture , Rhinestone entertainment and shopping. “Familyman” Barrett is the sole living Corrina San Marco Avenue from 5 to 9 pm. musician who was with Bob Marley Admission: Free Dang! formed in 2004 when four musicians from the beginning of Bob’s career Info: 904.824.9357 from various musical and cultural backgrounds to his death and as the co-founder came together to abandon all notions of validity, and bass player for the Wailers, and legitimacy, musical or lyrical content and any Acoustic Xmas II was the dominant musical force and hope of self respect to create music that captured Featuring: Burn Season, The the architect behind creating reggae the raw emotion and soul of Americana. “We’ll Neverland Symphony, Evolemo, music as a genre. Also playing: play your party and then back into your car when Autumn Effect And Very Special Jacksonville’s own Aerial Tribe. we leave.” Guest Stars Freebird Live - 8:00pm, Tickets: $18, Jack Rabbit’s - 8:00 pm, Tickets: $8 Jack Rabbits - 8:00 PM $23 Show Day Info: 398-7496 burn season Info: 398-7496 Info: 246-BIRD (2473)
4 december 28-january 3, 2006 | entertaining u newspaper gatorbowl parade! sunday DecEMBER 31 (Read about more New Year and Gator Bowl events on pages 16-19) Winn-Dixie Hometown Gator Bowl Parade The parade will begin at 3 pm in Downtown Jacksonville. The “Still Rockin’ at 60”-themed parade features colorful floats, high school bands, college bands, giant helium balloons, and entertaining specialty units. The units will be routed through the Northbank in downtown Jacksonville. $10 Reserved Parade Seat.
New Year’s Eve VyStar Credit Union 5K Run If running, walking, or biking is your thing, this race is for you. The race is held right before the Gator Bowl Parade, and runs along the parade route through downtown Jacksonville. Cost: $20 now and $25 on race day. The Jacksonville Landing - 2 p.m.
New Year’s Eve Party at The Jacksonville Landing Courtyard Count down to 2007 with a spectacular fireworks display over the St. Johns River to light up the night sky and celebrate the New Year. Festivities include live entertainment by Str8up at 7 p.m. and Blistur at 11 p.m. All Landing restaurants will observe extended hours until 2 am. New Year’s Eve Fireworks Spectacular take place at Midnight. All visitors must be 21 years or older or accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, show Military I.D. or posses a Gator Bowl Patch. monday january 1 Toyota Gator Bowl Classic With 6 Heisman trophy winners, 175 all-Americans and over 1,000,000 fans, the Toyota Gator Bowl is truly become more than a football game....it is a premiere event of Florida’s First Coast. West Virginia University is the Big East representative facing the ACC representative, Georgia Tech. Alltel Stadium - Kickoff 1 pm. Info: www.gatorbowl.com
wednesday january 3 Menopause the Musical If you haven’t seen it yet, then you’re in luck because it has been extended by popular demand to run through Jan. 28. The show is set in the Lingerie Department of Bloomingdale’s department store, four women: an aging TV soap star, a lost-in-the-sixties hippie, a power professional and a naïve Iowa housewife meet by chance over a black lace bra. This fast paced musical parody pokes fun at hot flashes, memory loss, mood swings, too much sex, not enough sex, wrinkles, night sweats and a whole lot more. Times-Union Center, Terry Theatre, Wed - Fri at 7:30 pm., Sat. at 4:00 and Sun at 2:00. Info: 632-3373
Downtown Art Walk The Self-Guided Tour 5-9 pm, rain or shine, will focus on The Art of the Resolution this month. Start your New Year off on the right foot. Achieve that resolution to become more involved in your community, look for Jacksonville non-profit organizations featured at Art Walk locations. Info: 634.0303
eujacksonville.com | december 28-january 3, 2006 5 winter alpha dog movies 18th-century Kazakhstan as a boy feels destined to one day unite the three warring tribes of the region. a preview of movies to warm Also Jan.12th, Alpha Dog premieres. It’s a drama based on the life of Jesse James Hollywood–a drug dealer who became one of the youngest men ever to be posted on the FBI’s 10 most wanted list. Stomp the Yard also opens. It is about a troubled 19-year old street dancer from Los Angeles who skirts juvenile hall by enrolling the all-black Truth University in Atlanta, Georgia. But his efforts to get an education are sidelined the new year by rick grant when he is courted by the top two campus fraternities, who want and need his street-style dance moves to win the coveted national step show competition.
The winter season is upon us and movies are great way to overcome the winter doldrums. This January 19th January and February‘s 2007 releases are a potpourri of genres for every taste. After the holiday season, with its creepy relatives and spoiled kids, people will be ready to get out of January 19 The Hitcher opens. This action film stars C. Thomas Howell as a young man who escaped the house and enjoy the big screen experience, which is definitely the best way to view movies. Yeah, you the clutches of a murderous hitch-hiker. Later he is stalked by the same man, then framed for the hitcher’s may have purchased a 50 inch plasma flat screen TV, but it’s a far cry from viewing movies on the mega- crimes, and his life is turned into a living hell. plex screens with an audience. On the negative side, avid moviegoers complain about rude audience members talking and taking cell phone calls. Theatre chain managers have worked hard to cut down on audience misbehavior. Some the- January 26th ater chains are installing cell phone jamming equipment that renders cell phones useless while people are in the theatre. These problems are getting much better. I know because I see at least 8 to 10 movies in a On January 26 Ken Watnebe stars in Letters month. Sense-around could be the answer. Electrify the seats and if someone talks or takes a cell phone, From Iwo Jima The story of the battle of Iwo Jima be- zap them senseless. tween the United States and Japan during World War Nonetheless, it’s a good time to go out to the cinema and here are worthwhile new wide releases for II, as told from the perspective of two good friends January and February 2007. serving in the Japanese forces, who watch help- lessly throughout various battles as their comrades are killed. Also Blood & Chocolate opens. It’s a story about a young teenage werewolf who is torn between January 5th honoring her family’s secret and her love for a man. Also Jan. 26th, Jennifer Garner stars in Catch January 5, Freedom Writers premieres starring Hilary Swank as a Freedom Writers and Release. She plays a young woman who new teacher in a tough urban school that has all but given up on these struggles to accept the death of her husband and the ghetto kids. Swank’s character finds new and innovative ways to moti- secrets he kept from her as she rebuilds her life. This vate her students. This scenario is based on a true story of a remarkable is Garner’s return to films after her long running Alias teacher. Swank’s character uses her own money to buy the students series ended. Clearly, her continuing career in films is books and take them on important field trips to open their minds to riding on this project. what’s possible. Dead Silence also opens as classic horror. It Also Jan. 5th, Code Name: The Cleaner opens starring Cedric the tells the story of Jamie Ashen, a man who has had Entertainer as Jake, a regular guy who has no idea who he is after being the finger pointed at him by those who they are con- beaten senseless. Now he thinks he is an undercover agent called The vinced he killed his wife. Events conspire to further Cleaner. Co-starring Lucy Liu with Nicolette Sheridan and DeRay Davis. incriminate him as he seeks to clear his name. The Happily N’Ever After also debuts. This animated feature stars a wizard nutty gang that made Scary Movie have conjured up letters from iwo jima who is in charge of Fairy Tale World. When he goes on holiday, Cinder- another spoof called Epic Movie sending up the big ella’s wicked stepmother takes over the land. Finally, Thr3e premieres blockbuster epic movies. The Invisible, opens Jan. on Jan. 5th. Innocent lives hang on the whim of an elusive psychopathic 26 also. It is about Nicklas, who lives a normal teenage life until one day, not far from graduation, a gangster murderer who sends detectives complex riddles and impossible time- from his school beats him into unconsciousness. The next day, when he returns to school, he notices that lines to his murders. He forces three people into a mission to end the nobody sees him. Suddenly, he realizes that he is invisible and a ghost. Now he must find his killer. Finally, game before one or all of them die. Think Saw! on Jan. 26th Smoking’ Aces premieres. It tells the tale of a Las Vegas performer turned snitch named Buddy Israel (Jeremy Piven) who decides to turn state’s evidence by testifying against the mob. Of course, the January 12th gangsters are trying to make him dead so he can’t testify. On January 12 Arthur And The Invisibles debuts. Ten-year-old Arthur has a lot on his plate: a real estate February 2nd developer is about to snap up his grandma’s home--and there’s no way Arthur’s going to hang around for his parents or grandparents to sort out the problem. Maybe the solution lies in his grandpa’s treasure, which February 2 Because I Said So premieres. It involves a mother Daphine (Diane Keaton) who loves her is hidden somewhere on the “other side” in the land of the Minimoys. The creatures that inhabit this world three daughters played by Lauren Graham, Piper Perabo, and Mandy Moore. In her efforts to save her daugh- are just a tenth of an inch tall and live in perfect harmony with their environment. NomadThe Warrior is set in ters from the bad men mistakes she made, she inadvertently sets up hilarious comedic situations and finds
6 december 28-january 3, 2006 | entertaining u newspaper someone herself. Also, Feb. 2nd, The Messengers opens as yet another horror tale. An ominous darkness invades a seemingly serene sunflower farm in North Dakota. The Solomon family is torn apart by suspicion, may- hem, and murder. Rogue opens as a winter kung fu movie starring Jason Statam and Jet Li in a battle to the death.
February 9th February 9 Hannibal Rising opens. It’s a prequel featuring Hannibal as a teenager after his parents because i said so are killed in WWII. Also, Norbit opens about a mild mannered guy (Eddie Murphy) who is engaged to a monstrous woman (also Murphy). But while engaged, he meets the woman of his dreams and schemes to be with her, despite threats from his betrothed.
Regal Cinemas AVENUES AMC ORANGE PARK 24 AMC REGENCY SQUARE 24 Cinemark TINSELTOWN STADIUM 20 Phillips Hwy N off I-95 Blanding Blvd & Wells Road Outside Regency Mall Southside Blvd & Gate Pkwy 800/FANDANGO #680 DIGITAL 904/264-3888 904/264-3888 904/998-2020 daddy’s little girls CHECK THEATRE DIRECTORIES OR CALL FOR SOUND INFORMATION AND SHOWTIMES SPECIAL ENGAGEMENTS NO PASSES OR DISCOUNT TICKETS ACCEPTED FOR GROUP TICKET SALES INFORMATION CALL: 1-877-PAR-GRP5 February 14th
Music and Lyrics premieres on Valentine’s Day starring Hugh Grant as a washed up singer who is given a couple of days to compose a chart-topping hit for an admiring teen sensation. The only thing is, he’s never written lyrics in his life. Then he meets a woman (Drew Barrymore) who helps him write the lyrics. Feb. 14th also features Tyler Perry with another original film, Daddy’s Little Girls. It’s a reverse Cinderella tale which involves a successful attorney Julia (Gabrielle Union) who falls in love with a financially challenged mechanic, who is a single father of three kids. Problems develop when the man’s ex-wife returns to make trouble for him. “ABSOLUTELY ONE February 16th “ABSOLUTELY ONE OF THE BEST FILMS February 16 Breach de- OF THE YEAR!” buts. It is based on the true Joel Siegel, GOOD MORNING AMERICA story of an FBI agent Eric O’Neill (Ryan Phillippe who engages in a power game with his boss, ONE OF THE TOP 5 Robert Hanssen (Chris Cooper), who turned out to be the most BEST FAMILY FILMS notorious FBI mole in the history OF THE YEAR of the FBI. The real Hanssen BROADCAST FILM CRITICS sold important national secrets to the Russians for 16 years, compromising national security for years into the future until the Soviet Union collapsed in 1990. His betrayal shocked veteran FBI agents who couldn’t believe he had access to top secret docu- breach ments for so many years. Also on Feb. 16th, Bridge to Terabithia debuts. It tells the story of an 11-year-old boy has his life changed forever when he befriends the class outsider, a girl. Together they create the world of Terabithia, Regal Cinemas AVENUES STADIUM AMC ORANGE PARK 24 AMC Hollywood Theaters Cinemark an imaginary kingdom filled with giants, trolls and other magical beings. Also, Ghost Rider premieres Feb. 20 Phillips Hwy N off I-95 Blanding Blvd & Wells Rd REGENCY RIVER CITY TINSELTOWN 800/FANDANGO #680 DIGITAL 904/264-3888 SQUARE 24 MARKETPLACE 14 Southside Blvd 16th. It involves an outlaw gang hanged by a posse in the late 1880s. The gang comes back from the grave I-95 to Duval Rd East & Gate Pkwy Regal Cinemas BEACH Napels Drive-In PLAYTIME Outside to terrorize the descendants of the posse’s leader. The Last Sin Eater is the story of 10-year-old Cadi Forbes BOULEVARD 18 DRIVE-IN Regency Mall Exit 904/757-9880 DIGITAL 904/998-2020 14051 Beach 6300 Blanding CHECK THEATRE DIRECTORIES OR CALL FOR SPECIAL ENGAGEMENTS NO PASSES who discovers a secret sin haunting her community of Welsh immigrants in the 1850s in Appalachia. Finally, Blvd 800/FANDANGO #188 DIGITAL Blvd 904/771-2300 904/264-3888 SOUND INFORMATION AND SHOWTIMES OR DISCOUNT TICKETS ACCEPTED Starter for Ten debuts. Set in 1985, a working class student Brian Jackson navigates his first year at Bristol University. (continues on page 8)
eujacksonville.com | december 28-january 3, 2006 7 now showing ghost rider “THIS HOLIDAY SEASON’S APOCALYPTO Forget The Passion of The Christ, ‘DON’T-MISS MOVIE.’” this is Mel Gibson’s Braveheart-like portrayal of the Sarah Zapp, THE COMCAST NETWORK downfall of the Mayan kingdom. During the Mayan’s “AMAZING. INCREDIBLE. decline, the ruthless king decided that to make things HEARTWARMING.” better and appease the gods, he would engage in Maria Salas, NBC-TV, MIAMI massive human sacrifices. Jaguar Paw (Rudy Young “It’s INSPIRING and UPLIFTING.” blood) is a young man chosen for sacrifice. Ah, but Jeffrey Lyons, NBC’s “REEL TALK” he has other ideas and flees the kingdom to organize “One of the year’s best films. a rebel army to defeat the demented king. Bloody A POWERFUL story violence ensues. Rated R and TERRIFIC cast!” Steve Oldfield, FOX-TV “A movie that will have you BELIEVING IN THE IMPOSSIBLE.” Melanie Moon, CW-TV
February 23rd February 23, The Astronaut Farmer premieres starring Billy Bob Thornton as Charles Farmer. As a NASA Astronaut, he is forced to retire so he could save his family farm. But Farmer can’t give up his dream of space trav- el. So he set out to build his own Regal Cinemas DIGITAL AMC Hollywood Theaters rocket under the government’s AVENUES STADIUM 20 ORANGE PARK 24 RIVER CITY DIGITAL Phillips Hwy N off I-95 Blanding Blvd MARKETPLACE 14 threat to stop him. 800/FANDANGO #680 & Wells Rd I-95 to Duval Rd East Exit 904/264-3888 904/757-9880 Feb. 23, Black Snake Moan Regal Cinemas DIGITAL BEACH AMC REGENCY Cinemark TINSELTOWN also debuts starring Samuel L. BOULEVARD 18 SQUARE 24 Southside Blvd & Jackson as a struggling veteran 14051 Beach Boulevard Outside Regency Mall Gate Pkwy 800/FANDANGO #188 904/264-3888 904/998-2020 blues artist. When he finds a CHECK THEATRE DIRECTORIES OR CALL FOR SPECIAL ENGAGEMENTS NO PASSES BLACK CHRISTMAS Bad taste or not, horror stalks SOUND INFORMATION AND SHOWTIMES OR DISCOUNT COUPONS ACCEPTED wild young woman, he begins a Yuletide. A sorority house is terrorized by a serial killer relationship with her and finds who makes frightening phone calls and then murders the sorority sisters one by one during Christmas. out she was a victim of sexual abuse and has been looking in all black snake moan CLICK IT! BLOOD DIAMOND A large priceless diamond the wrong places for love. Also read it all online at: rd becomes the center of a struggle between a farmer, a on Feb. 23 , Captivity premieres www.EUjacksonville.com smuggler, and a syndicate of businessmen trying to starring Elisha Cuthbert as a fashion model who, along with a chauffeur, gets kidnapped and held in a small lay their hands on it. Leonardo DiCaprio co-stars with room by a serial killer. While the killer terrorizes her, Daimon Hounsou with Jennifer Connelly in this action she takes strength from her co-captive, and they fall GOLDEN GLOBE® NOMINATIONS adventure story. Rated R in love. The Number 23 also debuts. Jim Carrey stars as a man who becomes obsessed with a book that
BORAT Shot as a mockumentary, Sacha Baron appears to be based on his life but ends with a mur- BEST ACTOR (DRAMA) WILL SMITH Cohen assumes the character of a journalist from der that has yet to happen in real life. BEST ORIGINAL SONG Kazakhstan who is dispatched to the United states to 2 report on the greatest country in the world. Halfway “ into his travels, Borat becomes more interested in ####! ONE OF THE BEST FILMS locating and marrying Pamela Anderson. Cohen’s offbeat humor gets old quickly. He even does OF THE YEAR. WILL SMITH GIVES interviews in character–a ploy that real journalists THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS CAREER.” hate. Rated R Steve Oldfield, FOX-TV
CASINO ROYALE There’s a new Bond in town, and he’s rough, tough, and macho–Daniel Craig. Yes, filmmaker Martin Campbell began this new Bond picture like the last 20 movies had never been made. He set out to reinvent the franchise. It worked! Craig is the best Bond yet–chiseled, powerful, and sexy. He kills without hesitation, teams with the beautiful Vesper reno 911: miami Lynd (Eva Green) and wears today’s fashions. In this scenario, Bond is tasked with his first mission from Q (Judi Dench). He must stop a financial backer of Finally, the nutty Reno 911: Miami troupe shot a terrorism from winning a high stakes poker game in feature film that showcases the misfit cops in all their the Bahamas. Rated PG-13 glory. They are called in to save the day after a ter- rorist attack disrupts a national police convention in NOW PLAYING CHARLOTTE’S WEB Wilber the pig dreads the end of Miami Beach, Florida during Spring Break. It is based REGAL CINEMAS REGAL CINEMAS AMC AMC PLAYTIME DRIVE-IN 3 the season because he knows that pigs go to heaven on the Comedy Central series. NAVENUES CINEMA 20 NBEACH BLVD. 18 8ORANGE PARK 24 8REGENCY SQUARE 24 6300 BLANDING BLVD. PHILLIPS HWY., 14051 BEACH BLVD. BLANDING BLVD. & 9451 REGENCY SQ. BLVD. (904) 771-2300 and end up on the dinner table. So he hatches a plan So, when you’ve got winter-time cabin fever, N. OF I-95, EXIT 98 992-4398 WELLS RD. OUTSIDE THE MALL 264-3888 HOLLYWOOD THEATERS with a spider that lives in his pen to prevent his demise take in some of the great new movies scheduled. 800-FANDANGO #680 800-FANDANGO #188 264-3888 G RIVER CITY from happening. Starring Dakota Fanning as Fern and 8 N CINEMARK’S MARKETPLACE 14 From high action and romanic comedies to bone- NTINSELTOWN 1-95 TO Julia Roberts as the voice of Charlotte. Rated G chilling horror and fantasy animation, your local mul- CHECK DIRECTORIES OR CALL THEATERS FOR INFORMATION. SOUTHSIDE BLVD. & DUVAL RD. EAST EXIT GATE PKWY. • 998-2020 757-9880 (continued on pg 9) tiplex has something for everyone.
8 december 28-january 3, 2006 | entertaining u newspaper DECK THE HALLS This mediocre holiday film seen. heard. noted. and quoted. involves two feuding neighbors. When Steve Finch (Matthew Broderick) finds out that Buddy Hall (Danny Godfather Gone DeVito) is building the mother of all light displays on his house, he goes ballistic. Buddy is stealing Steve’s James Brown, the Godfather of Soul, a.k.a. the Hardest-Working thunder as Mr. Christmas. Buddy keeps adding more Man in Show Business, and so much more, died Monday at an At- and more lights so his display can be seen from a lanta hospital of heart failure. He was 73. Brown was hospitalized satellite orbiting in space. Comedic situations ensue. Sunday due to pneumonia but said then he was still determined Rated PG to perform in Times Square on New Year’s Eve. He went out on Christmas Day! This proves God has soul. DÉJÀ VU Denzel Washington stars as an ATF agent who travels back in time to save a woman from being Brown Tells Lawyer from The Other Side, murdered. While accomplishing his mission, he falls “The Bitch Gets Nothing” in love with his target, which greatly complicates his mission. Rated PG-13 Brown’s covivant, Tomi Rae Brown, told the Augusta Chronicle she has been denied access to the South Carolina home she and the musician shared with their five-year-old son after the gate was padlocked at the request of Brown’s lawyer and accountant. She said she does not own a deed to the home but has a legal right to live there. However, Brown’s attorney asserted the late musician was never legally married to Tomi Rae and she was locked out for legal reasons pertaining to the estate. Brown’s abuse of his significant others is well documented. I guess she’s not in the will either. Advanced Ticketing at amctheatres.com or (904) 264-3888 A.M.Cinema - All seats $5 before noon on Fri., Sat., Sun., & holidays - denoted by ( ) Jacko Travels to Mecca AMC Select- Special films for select tastes. After 18 months of self-imposed exile, Michael Jackson arrived in Las Vegas with his three children over the weekend, where he will reportedly begin attempting to make a comeback per the Las Vegas Review- ORANGE PARK 24 Journal. The reclusive entertainer may be developing a live show on the Strip. His show could be called Wells Road and Blanding DREAMGIRLS This fabulous film adaptation of the “Jacko Does Janet on The Strip.” BLACK CHRISTMAS (R) (11:10 @ $5), 1:40, 4:20, 7:00, 9:40 Broadway musical is based on Tom Eyen’s book–a THE GOOD SHEPHERD (R) (11:30 @ $5), 2:45, 3:15, 6:30, thinly veiled biography of the rise of the Supremes as 7:00, 10:10, 10:40 the first black/white crossover singing group in the More Jacko Crappo NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM (PG) (11:00, 11:45 @ $5), 1:45, Michael Jackson filed suit Friday against his former accountants, Bernstein, Fox, Whitman, Goldman 2:35, 4:30, 5:20, 7:15, 8:15, 10:00, 11:00 1960s. It’s the best adaptation of a Broadway musical WE ARE MARSHALL (PG) (11:55 @ $5), 12:40, 3:10, 4:00, to film ever. Ex-American Idol reject, Jennifer Hudson & Sloan, claiming they made unauthorized deals that cost the moonwalker $2.5 million a year. While 6:15, 7:10, 9:15, 10:15 Jacko was entertaining little boys at Nerverland, his accountants allegedly were stealing him blind. ROCKY BALBOA (PG) (11:20 @ $5), 12:05, 2:05, 2:50, 4:50, steals he movie as the Dreams original lead singer 5:35, 7:35, 8:20, 10:25, 11:00 Effie White who is dumped in favor of Deena (Beyonce’ CHARLOTTE’S WEB (G) (11:15 @ $5), 12:00, 1:45, 2:30, 4:20, Knowles) who represents Diana Ross. This movie More Superficial News from Jolie/Pitt 5:25, 7:05, 8:00, 9:45, 10:35 could dominate the Academy Awards. Hudson is a Angelina Jolie spent Christmas in Costa Rica with refugees from Colombia as part of her work as a good- ERAGON (PG) (11:30 @ $5), 12:15, 2:00, 3:00, 4:40, 5:40, 7:30, 8:15, 10:05, 10:55 shoe-in for a nomination for Best Supporting Actress. will ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the agency said. The actor was THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS (PG13) (11:05 @ $5), 12:45, Prated PG-13 (Opens Christmas Day) joined by Brad Pitt, who helped hand out toys to kids in the capital city of San José. Ahh, it warms one’s 2:00, 4:05, 4:45, 7:05, 7:55, 9:55, 10:45 APOCALYPTO (R) 1:00, 4:10, 7:20, 10:30 heart to know that Jolie/Pitt are such altruistic phony celebrities. BLOOD DIAMOND (R) (11:35 @ $5), 3:20, 7:15, 10:45 ERAGON A farm boy in his homeland of Alagasia THE HOLIDAY (PG13) (11:40 @ $5), 3:30, 6:45, 9:55 finds a dragon egg that leads him on a predestined The Schwarz Cracked Up on The Slope UNACCOMPANIED MINORS (PG) (11:35 @ $5), 2:05, 4:45 journey. Eventually, he finds out he is the one person Arnold Schwarzenegger required surgery to fix his snapped femur, which he broke over the weekend while DECK THE HALLS (PG) (11:45 AM @ $5) DEJA VU (PG13) 7:35, 10:30 who can defend his homeland against an evil king by skiing with his family in Sun Valley, Idaho. The California governor will reportedly be on crutches for weeks CASINO ROYALE (PG13) 7:10, 10:25 learning to ride a fire breathing dragon. This fantasy after screws are used to reattach his thighbone. Marie, fed up with his crap, could have pushed him into HAPPY FEET (PG) (11:35 @ $5), 2:15, 4:55, 7:30, 10:25 redefines “air power,” as the dragon is used as a that tree. “Terminate this, fool,” she could have said. ————$AMC SELECT%———— tactical weapon. Rated PG-13 DREAMGIRLS (PG13) (11:55 @ $5), 12:45, 3:10, 4:05, 6:20, 7:10, 9:30, 10:20 Knight of Rock THE NATIVITY STORY (PG) (11:50 @ $5), 2:30, 5:00 HAPPY FEET In the close-knit world of Emperor Queen Elizabeth II awarded Bono an honorary British knighthood “in recognition of his services to the THE HISTORY BOYS (R) (11:00 @ $5), 1:55, 4:50, 7:45, 10:40 Penguins, they find their mates through singing. Ah but music industry and for his humanitarian work,” the British embassy said. But don’t call him Sir Bono. Only a penguin is born who can’t sing a note. So, the misfit British citizens can claim that title. REGENCY 24 Mumbles takes up tap dancing, and soon is banished Behind Regency Square Mall for their community. He meets a posse of outcasts and Rees Wants Second Chance Like Rees BLACK CHRISTMAS (R) (11:15 @ $5), 1:25, 3:50, 6:10, 8:25, soon the whole penguin nation is dancing to the oldies. Dethroned Miss Nevada USA Katie Rees held a tear-soaked press conference Saturday to announce R- 10:40 The animated film is voiced by Robin Williams, Hugh THE GOOD SHEPHERD (R) (11:10 @ $5), 12:10, 2:35, 3:40, rated photos of her that surfaced on the Web were snapped years ago, before she was tiara’d. Rees ap- 6:15, 7:10, 9:50, 10:35 Jackman, Elijah Wood, Nicole Kidman, and Brittany NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM (PG) (11:05 @ $5), 12:15, 1:45, Murphy. Rated PG pealed to Donald Trump to give her a second chance, à la reigning Miss USA Tara Conner, and allow Rees 3:00, 4:30, 5:40, 7:15, 8:20, 10:10, 10:50 to compete in next year’s Miss USA contest. Ah, but can she do what Tara did to Donald as good as Tara WE ARE MARSHALL (PG) (11:05 @ $5), 12:25, 1:55, 3:45, did it to get that chance. Donald passed on her request. I didn’t think so either. 4:50, 7:05, 7:45, 10:05, 10:45 THE HOLIDAY Two women, played by Cameron Diaz ROCKY BALBOA (PG) (11:25 @ $5), 12:40, 1:50, 3:05, 4:25, and Kate Winslet who suffer from romantic difficulties, 5:35, 7:00, 8:10, 10:10, 10:30 swap homes in each other’s countries. There, each Trump’s Flag Flies Large CHARLOTTE’S WEB (G) (11:00 @ $5), 12:05, 1:20, 2:25, 3:35, 4:40, 5:55, 7:05, 9:35 woman meets the man of their dreams. La de da. Co- Donald Trump filed a $10 million lawsuit last week...and it’s not against Rosie O’Donnell. No, the real ERAGON (PG) (11:20 @ $5), 12:45, 2:15, 3:10, 4:45, 5:50, 7:30, starring Jude Law and Jack Black as the women’s love estate kingpin is suing Palm Beach, Florida, for not letting him fly a 15-by-25-foot American flag over his 8:15, 10:50 THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS (PG13) (11:30 @ $5), 1:10, interests. Typical holiday fare Rated PG-13 Mar-a-Lago Club. Trump’s suit said a smaller flag would “look silly.” Kinda like his hair. “My flag has to be 2:20, 3:55, 5:05, 6:50, 8:00, 9:55, 10:40 proportional to my ego,” Trump could have said. APOCALYPTO (R) 4:20, 7:25, 10:25 NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM A hapless security guard, BLOOD DIAMOND (R) 1:05, 4:15, 7:25, 10:30 Larry Daley (Be Stiller) accidently invokes an ancient Henner-Brown Union THE HOLIDAY (PG13) 1:30, 4:35, 7:40, 10:35 UNACCOMPANIED MINORS (PG) (11:55 @ $5), 2:10, 4:25 curse that causes the animals and insects on display Marilu Henner married Michael Brown, a former college classmate who proposed to her from his hospital DECK THE HALLS (PG) 2:05 to come to life. Rated PG bed after undergoing surgery for cancer. The duo exchanged vows on Thursday, per the New York Times. DEJA VU (PG13) 4:20, 7:20, 10:15 2006 Isn’t that nice. CASINO ROYALE (PG13) 6:55, 10:00 30, PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS Will Smith stars in this HAPPY FEET (PG) (11:35 @ $5), 12:55, 3:25, 5:55, 8:25, 10:20 true story of a precocious child and his father, who BORAT (R) 10:50 PM Something Smells Like Wet Dog through circumstances beyond his control, drfits into a THE SANTA CLAUSE 3: THE ESCAPE CLAUSE (G) December Macy’s pulled Sean John hooded jackets from its shelves and Websites after learning that the jackets (11:20 @ $5), 1:40 , downward spiral and ends up homeless but working in weren’t made of faux fur but of a canine known as “raccoon dog.” In a statement, Sean “Diddy” Combs SAW III (R) 10:40 PM day a Dean Witter internship. Later he becomes a top Wall ————$AMC SELECT%———— says, “I was completely unaware of the nature of this material” and that he has ceased production on the Satur Street broker. Smith’s real life son Jaden Smith plays DREAMGIRLS (PG13) (11:00 @ $5), 12:30, 2:00, 3:30, 4:55, offending clothing line. Snoop Dogg could have offered to take over the line with the moniker, “Dogs on 6:30, 7:50, 9:30, 10:45 for his son in this engrossing docudrama. Rated PG-13 Dogg.” THE NATIVITY STORY (PG) (11:00 @ $5), 1:00, 3:15, 5:35, 7:55 Times -SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT No passes or discount coupons
eujacksonville.com | december 28-january 3, 2006 9 Oliver Hudson. Based on the slasher film that helped launch the genre, Black Christmas is a remake of Bob Clark’s other Christmas film (remember, he was also the guy responsible for the feel-good holiday classic A Christmas Story). Many fans attribute Clark with inventing some of the genres trademarked motifs such as shots from the kill’s point of view and creepy phone calls that originate from inside the house. Another one of Clark’s early horror films,Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things, is also being remade and is currently in pre-production. The storyline picks and chooses bits from the original, allowing the film to stand on its own, a plus ROCKY BALBOA If Sylvester Stallone lives to a for those who may not have seen its predecessor. hundred, he could make Rocky in a walker. Stallone Script-wise, the film is pretty formulaic. The as Rocky is now 60, but he feels like he can fight one more time. Ah the magic of special effects. Stallone filmmakers aren’t trailblazing here, it is a remake wanted to make a film, and he couldn’t think of after all, but they do pull out some off-the-wall death anything else to make. Ah, but he can rest assured scenes that are pretty surprising, complete with that he’ll never run out of Rocky sequels. Rated PG decent effects to back it up and make it look more real. It’s no Saw, but it is better than most of the SAW III It’s that voodoo that he do so well. Jigsaw stuff we’ve seen from the genre this year. The acting kidnaps a doctor to keep him alive as he directs his isn’t out of this world, but that’s not a total shocker apprentice to torture a new subject by solving riddles given the film in question. A minor beef I had was that keep the poor captive alive. It’s the ultimate torture with Michelle Trachtenberg, who I have seen grow up endurance test. Rated R before my eyes on the big screen between Harriet the Spy and “Buffy”. Here, it seems Miss Trachtenberg THE GOOD SHEPHERD Matt Damon stars as Edward is trying desperately to break out of her goody- Wilson, one of the creators of the CIA back in 1945. black christmas two-shoes image by dropping “f-bombs” every five The film chronicles how Wilson’s contacts at Yale’s minutes. I’m not sensitive about language in films but secret society called the Skull & Bones helped him this just seemed forced and really odd given all the build a power base as a stern, patriotic, and driven movie review preconceived notions I had about the girl based on her workaholic. Directed by Robert De Niro with an all-star body of work. I guess we know who won’t be playing cast, it’s the best spy film in many years. Rated R by kelliE abraHamSoN [email protected] the lead in Disney’s Ice Princess 2, should they ever make one! THE HISTORY BOYS A privileged and bright group C+ Rated R 98 min. writing Christmas cards. She hears a strange sound Black Christmas is good in the same the of British prep school boys pursue higher education, It’s Christmas Eve. As holiday tunes can be coming from the closet and goes to investigate… way that the Friday the 13th movies are good. girls, and frivolity while trying to get into Oxford or heard elsewhere in the house, a doe-eyed sorority Of course, you know where this is going. After a bit The protagonists always make stupid decisions, Cambridge. Call it a British version of the Dead Poets girl named Clair (Leela Savasta) is wrapping gifts and of cat and mouse Clair ends up dead with a plastic like heading up the stairs instead of out the door. Society. Rated R bag over her head and her eyes stabbed out. So The killer never, ever stays down, no matter how THE NATIVITY STORY This docudrama, directed by begins Black Christmas, a twisted take on the holiday much punishment they take. The tone is such that Catherine Hardwicke, focuses on the life of Mary and classics! the audience is so keyed up that a sudden noise Joseph before the birth of Christ. The screenwriter It turns out that the sorority house was once makes everyone jump and then laugh sheepishly endeavored to be Biblically correct, with fictionalized the home of the Lenz family. Mr. and Mrs. Lenz hated at themselves for being freaked out by a ringing dialogue. The couple eventually journey to Bethlehem each other and the odium only grew when their telephone. In short, Black Christmas is a lot of fun. under difficult circumstances where Mary gives birth. jaundiced son Billy was born. Billy’s mom (Karin Sick, twisted fun. It’s not the type of horror movie that Rated PG Konoval) hated to even look at her son and became will give you nightmares or make you nervous about distant and cold even when he was an infant. When being home alone; it’s the kind that makes you giggle THE SANTA CLAUSE 3: THE ESCAPE CLAUSE Billy was five (Cainan Wiebe) he witnessed his when thinking about it afterwards. It’s the kind that Tim Allen will be able to retire on these goofy Santa wicked mother and her boyfriend (Howard Siegel) has you describing the gory, over-the-top scenes in Clause films. This third movie in the series features murdering his father (Peter Wilds). As punishment for great detail to your friends because they were just so Santa a.k.a. Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) who is faced with his snooping, Billy was sent to live in the attic while campy. It’s a horror version of Snakes on a Plane. It double-duty: First, how to keep his new family happy, his mother and step-father began a new life without should have been called Psycho in an Attic. and second, how to stop Jack Frost from taking over him. One Christmas night, many years later, a much Black Christmas is a decent way to spend a little Christmas. Rated G older Billy (Robert Mann) snapped, murdering his under an hour and a half, especially if you are a fan of mother and step-father while his little sister looked films that are so bad they’re good. Those looking for on in horror. Billy was sent to an institution for the scares are definitely barking up the wrong tree. This is criminally insane. He attempts to break out every a movie where laughs will be heard more often than Christmas and this year he succeeds. He’s heading screams. Now whether that was intentional on the home for Christmas and he plans to make himself a part of the filmmakers or not is still up for debate, but new family to spend the holidays with… whether they I would see it again, particularly if I could guarantee like it or not! Black Christmas also stars Katie Cassidy, a theater full of likeminded people. Some movies are Michelle Trachtenberg, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, just more fun with a crowd and this is certainly one of Lacey Chabert, Kristen Cloke, Andrea Martin and them.
UNACCOMPANIED MINORS A gaggle of unaccompanied minors are snowed in at Chicago’s Airport during the holiday season. To amuse themselves, they create a makeshift holiday for themselves. Rated PG
WE ARE MARSHALL A tragic plane crash claims the lives of the Marshall Football team, (continuedsome fans, on and pg 11)its
10 december 28-january 3, 2006 | entertaining u newspaper new coach. Matthew McConaughey plays Jack Lengyel a charismatic coach who rebuilds the Marshall football team so the kids and parents can move beyond the cinematic for the people grief of the tragedy. Rated R special showings film is the new art in Jacksonville AMERICAN HARDCORE The lost subculture of America’s rebellious, Reagan-era hardcore set is explored in filmmaker Paul Rachman’s cinematic adaptation of Steven Blush’s book. Disillusioned by by jon bosworth [email protected] politics, angered by greedy record labels, and bound together by a powerful anti-establishment sentiment, Ever since he moved here from Texas, Tim innovative concepts, such as “The TALKIES,” he is bands such as Minor Threat, Black Flag, Dead Massett has been bringing underground cinema to poised to take the festival to a higher plane. Kennedys, and Bad Brains paved the way for such Jacksonville the likes of which this town has not The Talkies is a series that Massett came later bands as Nirvana and Pearl Jam by fearlessly seen before. Back when the San Marco Theatre up with when he invited Florida’s own Herschell questioning - and frequently mocking - the status quo, was a smoke-filled, second-run house, the clos- Gordon Lewis, the godfather of gore, to come and and proving that you don’t need radio play to reach an est you could get to an art film was the off chance provide live commentary to during San Marco’s audience. Whether working for a real change or simply that the Jacksonville Museum of Modern Art, then screening of Two Thousand Maniacs. Although attempting to shake things up in the music scene, these located on Art Museum Drive inside of the Koger it was a struggle to get the audience he needed bands gave a voice to the legions of youthful fans who Center between Beach and Atlantic, might run a for the event (since it was up against the Florida- felt their opinions had been neglected in mainstream couple of art films over the summer. The Florida Georgia game) he still pursued the concept. society. In this documentary, concert footage combines Theatre also ran some movies over the summer, “These directors do speaking engagements with interviews to offer a comprehensive look at the but their’s were mostly nostalgic films and clas- all of the time, so it isn’t asking much for them to musical revolution that defined an era. Rated R. San st sics. come here and talk about their own movies.” Marco Theatre, Dec. Dec 29th, 30th Midnight 31 at 1 pm. Info: 396-4845. Then Tim Massett came to town with a col- He has recently booked the king of kitsch, lection of films and rented a little warehouse in John Waters, to come to the San Marco Theatre HAPPY FEET at IMAX Happy Feet will be shown at the Brooklyn area of Riverside to store his films. It during a presentation of Polyester and provide the the World Golf Hall of Fame IMAX® Theater through wasn’t long before he struck up a deal Fuel Cof- live commentary. The bill was steep, but this par- January. Tickets are $10.50 for adults with discounts feehouse, then a new business in Five Points, to ticular engagement is being hosted by the Jack- for seniors, students, military, children and groups. The show films under the name Subterranean Cinema. sonville Film Festival, so he has more backing. The 2D World Golf Hall of Fame IMAX® Theater, located at He built up a small but loyal following of film- rumor is that he is currently pursuing David Lynch World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla., offers state- lovers that couldn’t wait for the once-a-month and even the spastic Quentin Tarrintino to come of-the-art, specially-designed cinematic technology. showing. Fuel, on the other hand, was less than and provide live commentary throughout presenta- The only IMAX® Theater in Northeast Florida, the enthusiastic about continuing the program for this tions of some of their films. Hall of Fame’s 300-seat IMAX® Theater houses an elite, albeit small, group of supporters. Check out the midnight movies that Massett DREAMGIRLS (PG-13) DIG # (1035 1125 155 240) 655 740 80-foot-wide by six-story-high. The World Golf Hall Tim then started showing them in “The currently programs almost every weekend. For 1000 1040 of Fame IMAX® Theater is open every day of the year Screening Room at the Pit,” ie. On a smaller the new year, the San Marco Theatre presents BLACK CHRISTMAS (R) - ID REQ'D DIG (1050 120) 410 715 except Thanksgiving and Christmas. For tickets and screen inside of his warehouse space. There American Hardcore, a film about the lost subcul- 940 1215 showtimes, call 904-940-IMAX or visit www.wgv.com. THE GOOD SHEPHERD (R) - ID REQ'D DIG(1100 230) 700 1025 was a ramshackle of folding metal chairs, cozy ture of America’s rebellious, Reagan-era hardcore Holiday Favorites “The Polar Express” and “Santa vs. NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM (PG) DIG # (1000 1115 1245 200) 345 but brutally used furniture, such as thrift store kids. “Disillusioned by politics, angered by greedy 500 720 800 1000 1030 the Snowman” are also showing at the World Golf Hall couches and handed-down recliners, and walls record labels, and bound together by a power- WE ARE MARSHALL (PG) DIG (1045 145) 445 745 1035 of Fame IMAX® Theater. lined with towers of film canisters. He quickly ful anti-establishment sentiment, bands such as ROCKY BALBOA (PG) DIG (1215) 350 645 755 925 1030 1150 learned that Jacksonville’s underground needed Minor Threat, Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, and ERAGON (PG) DIG (1155 1250 225) 330 505 740 1010 MOZART’S “THE MAJIC FLUTE” Tinsletown will a little tapping to wake up from their slumber. He Bad Brains paved the way for such later bands as CHARLOTTE'S WEB (G) DIG (1110 1140 205 235) 440 510 725 be having a matinee showing of Mozart’s “The Majic did interviews, he ran ads, and he even started Nirvana and Pearl Jam by fearlessly questioning 750 1015 1235 Flute” at 1:30 pm. Call 998-2020 for more information. combining showtimes of the films with live music - and frequently mocking - the status quo, and PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS (PG-13) DIG (1030 100 130) 400 430 700 730 950 1020 THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT The story of The performances, since live music was one thing proving that you don’t need radio play to reach an THE HOLIDAY (PG-13) DIG (1120 220) 735 1035 that young, interesting people came out of their audience.” Last House on the Left closely follows that of Ingmar APOCALYPTO (R) - ID REQ'D DIG (1005 115) 450 815 1120 Bergman’s classic film The Virgin Spring (1960), an holes for. After cultivating this audience for many American Hardcore plays at the San Marco BLOOD DIAMOND (R) - ID REQ'D DIG (1040 210) 520 825 1140 Oscar winner for best foreign language film. The Craven months, Massett was ready for a bigger screen Theatre December 29th and 30th at midnight and THE NATIVITY STORY (PG) DIG (1220) 340 645 920 1200 film was controversial for its graphic depiction of and a more accommodating venue so that he on New Year’s Eve at 1pm. DEJA VU (PG-13) DIG 1005 CASINO ROYALE (PG-13) DIG 630 945 violence, and also for the manner in which the villains could show films outside of his own collection or If you miss that show, check out Last House imposed their psychopathic and sadistic will upon his small network of distributors. on the Left, a classic horror movie by Wes Craven HAPPY FEET (PG) DIG (1025 110) 405 710 955 1230 SANTA CLAUSE 3: THE ESCAPE CLAUSE (G) DIG (1010 the victims. Craven was highly influenced by news The new owner of the San Marco Theatre, from 1972. 1255) 355 footage from the Vietnam War and wanted to convey David Blue, had returned the venue to its original “The story of The Last House on the Left that sense of violence he saw in that footage.The film historic glory, cleaned out the smokers, and closely follows that of Ingmar Bergman’s classic carried the tagline “It’s only a movie” in its advertising. started to show first run films, even sometimes film The Virgin Spring (1960), an Oscar winner for This was to suggest that the events of the film were so incorporating artistic fare. Although Blue was not best foreign language film. The Craven film was terrifying and shocking that the only way to get through an easy sell, he eventually let Massett come to controversial for its graphic depiction of violence, was to remind oneself that “It’s only a movie.”The film the theatre and experiment with showing midnight and also for the manner in which the villains im- BLACK CHRISTMAS (R) - ID REQ'D DIG (1230) 315 705 920 split opinion with critics, unsure whether the film is a THE GOOD SHEPHERD (R) - ID REQ'D DIG (1200) 330 700 movies. And that was really the start of Tim Mas- posed their psychopathic and sadistic will upon bold artistic statement or exploitative trash, or some 1030 sett having an opportunity to show this cow town the victims. Craven was highly influenced by news NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM (PG) DIG # (1205 1245 240) 340 510 combination of the two. Audiences, however, flocked that cinema was about more than Titanic. footage from the Vietnam War and wanted to con- 710 740 940 1015 to see the film and, along with films such as The Texas In 2002 some local people with plenty of vey that sense of violence he saw in that footage.” WE ARE MARSHALL (PG) DIG (110) 410 730 1020 Chainsaw Massacre, it is credited with bringing a new money and influence decided it would be fun to Last House on the Left shows at the San ROCKY BALBOA (PG) (1220) 415 725 1005 sense of realistic violence to the modern horror film. start the Jacksonville Film Festival. So they mus- Marco Theatre on January 5th and 6th at midnight. ROCKY BALBOA (PG) DIG (1255) 445 750 1040 Wes Craven has since directed many popular horror tered their forces, got some sponsors, and put Celebrating its fifth year in 2007, the Jack- OC & DA: CHARLOTTE'S WEB (G) DIG 440 films including The Hills Have Eyes, A Nightmare together a half-hearted film festival that piqued the sonville Film Festival continues its mission by ERAGON (PG) DIG (1235 105) 355 435 710 755 940 1015 on Elm Street, and Scream. Producer Sean S. CHARLOTTE'S WEB (G) DIG (1210 125 230) 505 720 800 955 interest of many locals, but didn’t exactly deliver bringing the best in independent and international Cunningham, meanwhile, went on to initiate one of the 1030 biggest horror film franchises in the 1980s with Friday groundbreaking cinema to the first coast. Enter film to Northeast Florida by inviting filmmakers PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS (PG-13) DIG (100 135) 400 430 655 the 13th.. San Marco Theatre, Jan. 5th & 6th at midnight. Tim Massett. from around the globe to submit their shorts and 745 950 1020 Info: 396-4845. Since Massett came on board to the festival, features. UNACCOMPANIEDMINORS (PG) (1250) their films have been better than ever. The stan- If you are a filmmaker, or know one that has THE HOLIDAY (PG-13) DIG (120) 420 715 1010 dard family fare is not excluded, but Massett’s a film to submit, the 2007 Jacksonville Film Festi- APOCALYPTO (R) - ID REQ'D DIG (1215) 350 735 1035 click it. focus is more on the underground films that are val is accepting submissions. BLOOD DIAMOND (R) - ID REQ'D DIG (1240) 345 650 1035 CASINO ROYALE (PG-13) 335 705 1025 read it all online at making waves in the independent film circles. So To submit a film, go to www.jacksonvillefilm- HAPPY FEET (PG) DIG (115) 405 640 1000 between his savvy at booking great films and his festival.com. www.eujacksonville.com Times For 12/30/06 ©2006
eujacksonville.com | december 28-january 3, 2006 11 new on dvd are you ready for an upgrade? The Architect (82 min.) Anthony LaPaglia stars as a respected architect who battles the resident (Viola Davis) of a tv viewing goes high-tech housing project he designed who wants it torn down. Stage director Matt Tauber makes his by kelliE abraHamSoN [email protected] screen directorial debut with this digital HDNet production, an adaptation of the stage play by David Grieg. Isabella Rossellini, Hayden Panettiere, Sebastian Stan, and Walton Goggins co-star. Rated R for language and some sexual content.
The Black Dahlia (122 min.) Set in 1940s Los Angeles, two cops, Bucky Bleichert (Josh Hartnett) and his partner, Lee I was a little late on the whole DVD thing. I had Blanchard (Aaron Eckhart), investigate the Sharp, Pioneer and LG Electronics, Dell, HP, Apple nies to look for new technology and find a suitable a healthy VHS collection that took up most of the death of Elizabeth Short (Mia Kirshner), a young Computer, Twentieth Century Fox, Vivendi Universal next generation replacement. We still have a long space in my entertainment center and was extremely woman found brutally murdered. Bucky soon and Walt Disney and video game maker Electronic time until either of the new formats will make stan- skeptical about upgrading to DVD for fear that the realizes that his girlfriend (Hilary Swank) had ties Arts. Warner Bros and Viacom have said they will dard DVDs obsolete so those with hundreds of mov- trend just wouldn’t catch on. Of course now I have to the deceased, and soon after that, he begins support both. ies on DVD can rest easy. And, thankfully, HD DVD far too many DVDs to count and my VHS collection uncovering corruption and conspiracy within the Many people like Blu-Ray because of the and Blu-Ray players are able to read current-genera- is a dusty memory, half boxed up in our storage unit, police department. Rated R for strong violence, higher data capacity but others say HD DVD is better tion DVDs, meaning you can continue to watch your the other half taking up space in a landfill some- some grisly images, sexual content and language. because it is a less expensive option. While this is discs long after you upgrade your equipment. where. As my luck would have it, my beloved DVDs currently the case, prices are expected to drop at the The winner of the battle for technological su- may just be going the way of the buffalo, what with The Decent (99 min.) end of next year, perhaps paving the way for Blu-Ray premacy remains to be seen and the war could very the growing popularity of competing technologies After a tragic accident, six friends reunite for a to pull into the lead. well last another couple of years. The bottom line is like HD, DVD and Blu-ray. If you happened to be caving expedition. Their adventure soon goes if you’re satisfied with your plain ol’ DVDs, there’s lucky enough to get a fancy new HDTV for Christ- horribly wrong when a collapse traps them deep DVDs: Obsolete? no reason to up and switch until all the dust settles. mas, you may need to consider picking up some underground and they find themselves pursued With all this talk of format wars, are our pre- Existing DVD players and discs will work perfectly new discs to go along with it. What’s the difference? by bloodthirsty creatures. As their friendships cious DVDs being phased out? Not quite yet. Today’s with HDTV sets and will look great. Still, if you have And do you really need to go out and replace all your deteriorate, they find themselves in a desperate conventional single-layer DVDs can hold around 4.7 an HDTV and you want to see what it can really do, movies? struggle to survive the creatures and each other. gigabytes of information which is plenty for most you may want to pick up a next generation player Rated R for strong violence/gore and language. TVs to handle. The consumer want for pitch perfect and a few discs and take it for a spin. It’ll almost be HD DVD picture quality and sound is what is driving compa- worth money to take a look at what home entertain- HD DVDs and players use blue lasers to read Factotum (94 min.) ment in the future will look like. and write information, an upgrade to standard DVDs This drama centers on Hank Chinaski (Matt because blue has a shorter wavelength, allowing Dillon), the fictional alter-ego of “Factotum” author information to be more densely packed. As a result, Charles Bukowski, who wanders around Los HD DVD can store roughly 3-4 times more informa- Angeles trying to live off jobs which don’t interfere tion than regular DVDs. That means your standard with his primary interest, which is writing. Along single-layer copy of Bridget Jones’s Diary is 4.7GB the way, he fends off the distractions offered while the HD DVD equivalent has 15GB, resulting by women, drinking and gambling. Rated R for in a clearer, sharper picture of a slightly overweight language and sexual content. Renée Zellweger in a barely-there bunny suit. There are currently 128 films available on Haven (99 min.) HD DVD in the United States (sorry folks, Bridget During a weekend, two shady businessmen (Bill Jones’s Diary hasn’t made it to the format yet). If Paxton and Stephen Dillane) flee to the Cayman you own an Xbox 360 you can purchase a HD DVD Islands to avoid federal prosecution. But their drive for around $200 and play your new discs on escape ignites a chain reaction that leads a British that. If not, stand alone players are available starting native (Orlando Bloom) to commit an outrageous at around $500. crime that changes the nation. Rated R for language, drug use, sexual content and some violence. Blu-Ray Much like its competitor, Blu-Ray discs use blue lasers to read and write data, meaning they Jackass Number Two (93 min.) can hold a lot more information compared to cur- Johnny Knoxville and his gang of Jackasses from rent DVDs. In fact, Blu-ray discs actually have more the MTV series of stupid human tricks returns information capacity than HD DVDs, with single-layer with more stunts and pranks considered to be too discs holding 25GB and dual-layer discs with 50GB. much for TV. The unrated version features scenes Blu-Ray players are currently running at around that were even too extreme for theaters. Bam $1000, but if you happened to get your hands on Margera, Steve-O, Chris Pontius, Preston Lacy, a Playstation 3, you’ve already got everything you Jason “Wee Man” Acuna, Ehren McGhehey, Dave need to play the discs. As of December 12th, 123 England, and Ryan Dunn are his partners in prank. films are available on Blu-Ray. This DVD is unrated and not for the faint of heart. Battle lines- Whose side are you on? The Last Kiss (103 min.) If you happened to be around during the great Young professional Michael (Zach Braff) panics VHS/Betamax format war in the early 80s, you may on his 30th birthday as he sees his youth and be feeling a bit of déjà vu right about now. Currently freedom in the rear view mirror. Newly engaged manufacturers are at a standoff as to which new- to a beautiful young woman (Jacinda Barrett) but gen disc will reign supreme. HD DVD supporters still attached to his immature buddies, he risks include Toshiba, NEC, Sanyo, Microsoft, Intel, HBO, it all for a fling with a free-spirited college girl New Line Cinema, Paramount Home Entertainment (Rachel Bilson). Rated R for sexuality, nudity and and Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Blu-Ray language. backers are Sony, Panasonic, Philips, Samsung,
12 december 28-january 3, 2006 | entertaining u newspaper reality check video game reviews by Norm stovall [email protected] big entertainment from small cable networks Victorious Boxers 2: By jon Bosworth and Cassie LaRue Fighting Spirit For Playstation 2 EU takes great pride in providing the most comprehensive local entertainment coverage in town. We do more movie reviews, more in-depth interviews with local and traveling musicians, and the most television Who doesn’t love Ippo? I know I sure writing than any other weekly paper. The one gap in our elaborate coverage is the reality programming that do. Victorious Boxers is based on a great Japa- is harbored on small cable networks. Now that the big networks have finally gotten off of the reality TV horse nese manga franchise featuring the dedicated and moved on to strange game shows, basic cable owns reality television. character that most all of Japanese boxing fans If “reality bites,” than reality TV eats it whole. There is everything from the Celebreality programs on love. The gameplay in Victorious Boxers 2 is the VH1, which includes the always hysterical Flavor of Love and This Surreal Life, to the home and fashion same as its predecessor, if you haven’t played makeover shows on TLC, to the real-life crime drama of Court TV and A&E. There is no end to the voyeurism it, think of a control scheme much like EA’s Fight we are capable of. Ever since The Osbournes found such success on MTV, every quasi-celebrity hopes to Night- Round 2 with an anime theme, and over 70 extend their careers through the magic of a camera crew in-house. characters to choose from. (I’m pretty sure Victo- Even fictional television has grabbed onto the phenomenon of reality. The Office presents its sitcom un- rious Boxers was the inspiration to Fight Night’s controls, actually. They work amazingly well.) Duke it out der the auspices of being a reality television program about life in the average cubicle environment. Curb Your with your opponent using your dual shock analog sticks, ducking, weaving, and beasting your way to the Enthusiasm, in the vein of Larry David’s last faux-reality show, Seinfeld, maintains the concept of being about top. If you love boxing but have played Fight Night to death, be sure to give this one a try. It isn’t exactly Larry David’s real life in Hollywood, but most of the characters are just actors, or actors “playing themselves” getting the media buzz it deserves. like Ted Danson and Richard Lewis. Cars Little People Big World For Nintendo Wii – TLC more drab than The Osbournes, because at least So lets face it, most licensed movie This show is about midgets…Wait, midgets that show allowed us the humorous relief of a totally games tend to be lacking in the quality depart- isn’t the right word. The Daddy midget on the show disoriented Ozzy mumbling curse words and popping ment. Did you ever play the Pirates of the calls the disorder dwarfism, but the proper nomen- pills. The Hogans is dyed blonde and a total waste of Caribbean game? How about the Jaws game? clature is “little people,” which I find to be a little time. If so, you’ll know what I mean. Well, prepare to more demeaning than “midget,” but then again, I’m be surprised with Cars, a game that is geared not nearly as little. This family of six owns a farm toward the smaller family members, but really in Portland that wasn’t exactly successful until this Growing up Gotti holds its own even with the big kids. Granted, show started to air. Of the four children, only one – A&E it’s no Gran Turismo HD, but Cars has a certain is a “little person,” although both of the parents are This show isn’t on the air right now, but I am special charm with its fun gameplay and con- little people. waiting with baited breath to see this spoiled-rotten trols and its full cast of voice actors including There is certainly an educational element to and amoral family bring me back into their no-lon- Paul Newman and Owen Wilson. In Cars, you this show, because I don’t really know anything ger-the-gangsters-we-used-to-be mentality. It ap- are able to drive about, racing in various locales about midgets…little people. You see little people is pears, throughout the drama of the show, that they including Radiator Springs and plenty of NASCAR inspired racetracks. There is plenty to do, and Cars a misnomer for me, because it could mean anything think of themselves as the real-life Sopranos. If that doesn’t get old as fast as most kid’s games. from elves to children, but when I say midgets, you is the case, I hope a new season will play back-to- know exactly what I’m saying. So political correct- back with A&E’s syndicated showings of the original ness be damned, I’m calling them midgets. They HBO series the Sopranos so that we can laugh at Import Game Review: aren’t bad, although they are sometimes scary in those squirrelly brats when we realize just how NOT Fellini or Gilliam films, this family of midgets is hard- gangster they are. King of Fighters XI working, understanding, and loaded with drama. For Playstation 2 From mystery illnesses that root in their dwarfism to the son that accidentally injured himself with their What Not To Wear Not everyone is fortunate enough to pumpkin catapult, there is always some sort of edu- – TLC have both a Japanese and an American cational, compelling, and cathartic drama to pass TLC has a number of shows that spotlight catty Playstation 2, but after I made a trip out to your evening on the couch. gay men berating average Americans about their Game Force in Mandarin, I was set to play fashion choices. From What Not to Wear to Ten Years games meant for both regions on my soon to Younger, the benefactors of these programs are usu- be modified PS2. See, I really had to get my Hogan Knows Best ally less than excited and caught totally unawares. hands on this Japan-only fighting game my – VH1 When the hosts first speak to the “victim” and then friends have been pushing me to get. I didn’t No one really thought they cared about Hol- throughout the duration of the show, nothing is have a Japanese PS2, and hell if I was go- lywood Hulk Hogan until he had his own show. Al- encouraging or hopeful. Even when they are sent ing to pay for one. Luckily, Game Force sells though we love watching people we don’t really care to New York with $5,000 to spend on any clothes mod kits so you can play these imports on your favorite console. I was told they could even do the mod about deal with predicaments that aren’t at all real to they want, they are haunted by the jibes that echo in service for you, for a small fee, which is awesome. So, now that I am set up for multi-regional gaming us, The Hogans is taking it a step too far. Much like their head about the rules of fashion that they were and ready to share my somewhat cultural gaming experience with you. the show about Kiss’ Gene Simmons, this show is inundated with before leaving. Similarly, in Ten Years a sick tromp through a decadent American life that Younger, they are forced to stand in a soundproof, King of Fighters XI is the newest edition of the KOF series, (with the exception of the Maximum Im- makes terrorists far away hate us. The only drama transparent cube as passerbys in a haughty Los pact/20006 games) which retains many of the coolest innovations in the series, and adds a few new in this show revolves around the daughter throwing Angeles shopping district are called on to judge their ones. When you start out a game in Arcade or versus mode, you first select the person who is to be your a party or wrecking her new sports car. It is even appearance both before and after their makeover. team leader. Then, you select 2 team members to support you. During gameplay, you can snap in (or tag in) your team members by tapping both punch or both kick buttons. Easy peasy. The pause menus provide you with all the special moves and combos, and most text in the game that involves navigation is For showtimes of any of these shows, just Google the show’s name and the network will provide you written in English. You can also participate in single player, one-on-one matches, and if you live in Japan, with the various times the show is scheduled to air. This topic is so full of fodder all over the television that you can even play online via networked matches. Why doesn’t the US market have more PS2 games like you can count on this column appearing once a month for the rest of the year. There is no end to reality, and this? I don’t know the answer to that, but if you are a die-hard fighter fan or even if you like KOF just a no end to bad television on basic cable, so when the two are mixed, they create an oddly entertaining combo: little, consider importing King of Fighters XI. I’m glad I did. this column.
eujacksonville.com | december 28-january 3, 2006 13 read an adventure eat indian, cook indian saban and the ancient cooking demo with suvir saran by Erin thursby [email protected] by Erin thursby [email protected] WHAT: Cooking demo, five course meal and Each region of India is also very different, and WHAT: Local book signings cookbook signing with celebrity chef Suvir Saran Saran borrows from them all. Northern Indian food WHEN: this Friday, Saturday and January 13th WHEN: Cooking Class Jan 6th @6:30 PM Book is “heavy on creams, dairy and meats.” Central WHERE: Borders, The Bookmark and Signing, 5 to 6 PM focuses on vegan and vegetarian fare and the south The Town Center Barnes & Noble WHERE: Apron’s Cooking School tends toward use of spices, seafoods and coconut. Cost: $50 As far as Saran is concerned, the food served in Local author Danté Amodeo recently sent his most Indian isn’t authentic. When he came to this first novel over to EU, an action/adventure/espio- Suvir Saran doesn’t remember a time when country and went to Indian restaurants, he found nage tale called Saban and the Ancient. Although he wasn’t cooking. When he thinks back to his that they were “serving some hybrid cuisine that aimed at a young teen audience, the book is com- childhood in India, his earliest memories of relatives wasn’t Indian.” Even though India has an extensive plex enough for adults to enjoy. It’s won 1st place are always associated with food. When the other coastline, most Indian eateries don’t serve much in for the category of Action/Adventure by POW, a boys had taken up their cricket bats, Saran stayed the way of fish and when they do, the results are national organization called Promoting Outstanding behind in the kitchen, always cooking. often disastrous. “You don’t want to order seafood Writers. All these hours in the kitchen led him to a in most Indian restaurants, [they] just kill our meats The hero of the book is the unassuming completely different approach to Indian cooking. This and seafood…mostly by overcooking.” Saban, who gets caught up with an ultra-secret radical, yet sensible approach has made him the Saran doesn’t believe that all curries should spy organization called “The Ancient.” Elements premier chef of Indian cuisine in the U.S. On Jan 6th, be exalted or condemned based on the impression reminiscent of comic book heroes, a splattering Saran will be coming to Jacksonville for an Apron’s of curry at one restaurant or in one dish. “When of the paranormal, the spy genre and relationship Cooking School demo and a book signing. Since non-Indians tell us that they love or hate curry, we complications, all merge to form a cleanly told 2004 when he opened his New York restaurant, Dévi, die a little inside, because curry can mean different story that is to be the first in a series. The book Saran has been featured in the New York Times, things.” The term curry is often used in India as a is rapidly gaining popularity, showing up on book Food & Wine as well as many other publications catch-all phrase meaning sauce or gravy. French shop shelves across Jacksonville. EU recently across the country. sauces or gravies can be as different as Indian EU: What kind of research did you do to get the caught up with Danté Amodeo to ask questions Saran originally came to the United States in curries can be. The word curry can also be used spy lingo down? about the series. 1993 to study graphic design at the School of Visual to denote the use of the curry plant in recipes, Well, I am prior military intelligence, but EU: What inspired you to write for this age Arts. He had so many friends and foodies over for and lastly, curry can mean “that awful powder the most of what I did was over twenty years ago. So range? dinner at night, teaching them I cheated a bit. See, John has been “off-grid” for The “age range” is always a tricky question, how to cook Indian food, twenty years or so, and Alpha learned what they because it LOOKS like a young adult book, but it’s that he was forced to start know from him. So they all use the terminology he not just that. I actually wrote the book to be escap- charging for it. At the urging would use, which (not coincidentally) is the lingo ism for adults, but back when I worked for Daniel of friends and family, Saran with which I am familiar. Younger spooks would Memorial as a child care worker, I could never opened his own catering call it “old-school”, I’m sure, but you know, “no find enough books about young adults that were business. The highlight of school like the old school!” pushing themselves to be the best they could be. his catering career so far has EU: What’s your favorite spy novel? So the book is ABOUT young adults, and it’s clean been cooking the first Indian Oddly, I don’t read spy novels. Most real enough for young adults...but there are a lot of meal ever served at Carnegie intelligence work is surprisingly relational and parts that only adults will appreciate. Hall for a host of international relatively gadget-free. I did wear out my copy of EU: When will the next book be out? Can you celebrities and dignitaries in The Puzzle Palace. And I thought the Bourne mov- give us a sneak peek into the plot? honor of the 50th anniversary ies were cute and engaging. I’m shooting for June 2007…As to the sec- of India’s independence in EU: What are you currently reading? ond book, there is definitely a mole on the team. 1997. Hah! You might laugh: I like relational stuff. Saban cannot fully trust his friends, and he’s not Reading his Indian I just finished Boundaries by Drs. Townsend and too sure about his boss, either. Meanwhile, the Home Cooking: A Fresh McCloud. It’s an incredible book on embracing crystals DO come together, in Italy of all places, Introduction to Indian Food responsibility and learning when to say “no” to and when the big evil is released, we will have to I noticed a lot of similarities people who encroach on your time and space. see if the supernatural can be trumped by science between American Southern- And I’m about to start Love and Respect by Dr. or superior firepower. Perhaps both...perhaps nei- style hospitality and Indian Emerson Eggerichs, a fantastic book about the ther. hospitality, so when I had him dynamics of man/woman relationships. Don’t be EU: How have your many jobs prepared you for on the phone, interviewing for surprised if you see some concepts reflected in writing? EU, I asked him about it. “It’s the relationships of the series. And I’ll read a few All of them, as far as being able to think true, they are similar,” Saran others soon, and then I won’t read for a while. quickly. In my younger, slightly unethical days, I says “It’s all about passion, But when I read, I read quickly. When the fifth bluffed my way into maybe half of my jobs, under love, a desire to love and spoil Harry Potter came out, I borrowed it from a friend the pretense of being “rusty.” By the time I shook people. [It’s] Entertainment and read it in a day. I would rather learn than be of the supposed rust, I had learned how to do the that is the way we should be entertained. Hopefully my books will do both - job - kind of like a small-scale “Pretender”, except living.” philosophical discussions while dodging bullets. without the chiseled good looks, or good looks of Most Indian cookbooks, And the action is the vehicle for the relationships, any type, really. And no felonies committed. Saran laments, “are written not the other way around. EU: Are you planning on killing off any charac- like a great-grandmother wrote EU: If Saban were a chess piece, what piece ters in the next book? it.” Saran’s cookbook attempts to reflect modern English invented.” would he be and why? One character is in a bad situation, I’m try- Indian home-style cooking. Saran also thinks most To learn more about modern Indian cooking, He would say a bishop or maybe a rook, but ing to figure out a way for them to survive, but I’m cookbooks are needlessly intricate. “I think we like to you can see Chef Suvir Saran at the Apron’s Cooking he’s beginning to understand that those pieces not sure they logically can. I’m big into “Deus” but make things difficult so as to justify our paycheck,” School. Call (904) 262-4187 for more info. The are just “talented” pawns. Even as nice as Saban not so much the “ex machina.” Like real life, the he joked. His book simplifies wherever possible. demo menu will feature Puff Pastry Samosas with is, he has no desire to be anyone’s pawn - much mortality rate is still 100% no matter what, and Saran zeroes in on what’s available in Indian Green Peas; Ground Chicken with Spinach and to the surprise of those who try to play him. And the only factors are when, how, and the class with kitchens today. Of the famed ghee butter Saran says, Whole Spices; Stir-Fried Green Beans with Coconut; when he has had enough...well, I would leave the which you pass. So some people will not make it “We didn’t grow up with ghee, we grew up with the Eggplant Raita; Rice (Basmati and Lemon); Chutney room. It won’t be pretty. out of the series alive, I can assure you. Indian version of canola oil.” (Green and Tamarind). The author will be at two book signings this weekend December 29th at Borders on Southside, 14 december 28-january 3, 2006 | entertaining u newspaper Large parties can be scheduled at Angelo’s with a reservation. Chef Gabbe is excited about a party slated for the weekend: “A couple that came in every year for their anniversary, obviously hasn’t been able to come in here the last couple of years [will be here]…This year is their 50th wedding anniversary and their children found out that we were re-opening and set up a party. It’s going to be about 35 people.” There’s something on the menu for everybody at Angelo’s, and they even provide a kid’s menu for the little ones. If you’re looking for a neighborhood restaurant with an upscale atmosphere and Italian comfort food, Angelo’s is the place to go. INFORMATION Angelo’s Italian Restaurant 2111 University Blvd N. (904) 745-4812 Open: 11AM-2PM Lunch & 5PM-9PM Dinner Tuesday-Saturday, Noon-9PM Sundays, You can also order pizza only Tuesday-Saturday from 2PM-5PM between lunch and dinner. Cost: Lunch will roughly cost about $10 for a single person and dinner is from about $10-$25 depending on what you order. making the old new again Angelo’s is open by Erin thursby [email protected] With dark wood paneling, Sinatra crooning, black accents and red table- cloths, Angelo’s isn’t short on classy retro- style atmosphere. The food is something I crave--uncomplicated Americanized Italian. Angelo’s has a history of more than thirty years in Jacksonville. They were closed for two years before being re-opened by its new owners, Paul Rohan and Don Werkema. Always a neighborhood favorite, ian gabbe locals were happy to see the place being re-opened this past November. chef profile What has stayed the same since Angelo’s has changed hands, is the neigh- borhood sensibility. Chef Ian Gabbe tells EU Restaurant: Angelo’s Italian Restaurant that “the majority of the staff are from the Arlington area, a lot of them live less than 4 You’ve worked at Pastiche, with the San Marco Group and blocks away.” Crush during your career in Jacksonville. Besides that, did The biggest difference between the new Angelo’s and the old Angelo’s, according to Chef Gabbe is you receive any formal training? “more of an emphasis on fresh ingredients.” Undeniably, there is a bistro sensibility to the food that will be ACFI basically sponsored me through FCCJ…My instructor was placed before you, especially with non-fried items like the tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella and fresh basil. This John L. Wright, who is a culinary icon here in Jacksonville, he’s very basic but lush appetizer was finished with basil-infused olive oil and aged balsamic vinegar. They are trained a lot of people here. He’s one of the coolest old guys starting over with the menu, still offering Italian food, but using their own recipes. A few popular favorites, like you’ll ever meet. the baked spaghetti and meatballs, made it over from the old menu. You can order their sought-after pasta selections for lunch or dinner. If you were trapped on a dessert island, besides a chef knife, what kitchen tool would you bring? Another important difference is that Angelo’s will now be open for lunch, with lower priced items for the I think probably a big mallet, a big meat tenderizer. lunch crowd. Word has started to trickle out that eatery is now open for lunch ahead of schedule, something that they were slated to do in January but have begun this month. What’s your favorite dish to make? Paul and Don also own Pauly’s New York Pizzeria on Monument in Regency. You can see the influ- I like doing sauté. That’s probably the thing I have the most fun doing, because there’s flames…and ence of Pauly’s menu on Angelo’s menu as you scan the lunch menu and the pizza selections. Items like the stuff’s flying. whimsically named “Tighty Whitey” (a ricotta, mozzarella and garlic pizza) and “the Pauly Meatbally” are lifted straight from the Pauly menu. Lunch features many of the hero sandwiches you’ll find at Pauly’s, which is What’s your favorite spice to use? likely why they’re ahead of schedule in offering up lunch. I don’t know that I have an overall favorite, I mean, I use thyme in just about everything that I do, but Beverages include standard beer and wine selections, as well as a full liquor bar. Most of the décor was that’s just the basic background…I’m kind of partial to tamarind. kept from the old restaurant, but a few things were refreshed and refurbished. New wallpaper, a few reuphol- stered chairs and artwork from local artists like MactruQue and Sage Steven’s New York photo studies com- What’s your favorite dish to eat? plete the look of the new Angelo’s. I’m a moody person, all depends on my mood. I love food…I have standbys everywhere I go to eat. The entrées here are of course more upscale than the lunch offerings. I lovingly consumed the artfully Bistro Aix, I usually eat the tuna if I don’t have anything else I want to try. Pastiche does…a grouper presented chicken piccata. The moist juices of the tender chicken breast were sealed in by an egg batter Provencal that’s really good. (Français style) served atop a bed of zucchini and green peppers with a flavorful lemon and chicken stock reduction laced with capers. Each entrée item comes with a choice of salads. What’s the most decadent dessert at Angelo’s? To end my meal, I had their Roma tiramisu, a well presented dessert criss-crossed with chocolate and The chocolate cake, it’s…a five layer chocolate cake and it stands about 8 feet tall (laughs)—Well it’s caramel. I was torn between the rich-sounding chocolate cake and the tiramisu, but in the end, I had to go pretty tall, anyway. It’s a thin wedge but it’s tall and very rich. with something classically Italian, and I wasn’t disappointed.
eujacksonville.com | december 28-january 3, 2006 15 New Year’s Eve
blow outs, events
and eats by erin thursby Here’s this year’s sampling of the parties and events you can attend for New Year’s Eve, from the Gatorbowl and club events to places to eat as you ring in the New Year!
Gatorbowl Related Events!
December 31st, New Year’s Eve Winn-Dixie Hometown Gator Bowl Parade Downtown Jacksonville: 3 p.m. $10 Reserved Parade Seat You are invited to celebrate New Year’s Eve at the Winn-Dixie Hometown Gator Bowl Parade. The “Still Rockin’ at 60”-themed parade features colorful floats, high school bands, college bands, giant helium balloons, and entertaining specialty units. The units will be routed through the Northbank in downtown Jacksonville.
Gator Bowl Pep Rallies The Jacksonville Landing Courtyard Visiting Team Pep Rally: 1:30 p.m. Home Team (ACC) Pep Rally: 5:30 p.m. Get pumped up for the Toyota Gator Bowl Classic! Excited fans are invited to show their team spirit at the Pep Rallies at The Jacksonville Landing. Join the bands, cheerleaders, and mascot in the excitement on New Year’s Eve.
January 1st Budweiser Tailgate Party Alltel Stadium Entertainment Zone: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. $10 at the gate or FREE admission with “THE PATCH” (Go to www.gatorbowl.com to learn more) Enjoy the thrill and excitement of college football as thousands of out-of-town fans come together to celebrate their team in a festive and family-oriented entertainment atmosphere. Truly a party where team spirit abounds, there will be pep rallies, cheerleaders and bands from both Universities that will be sure to ignite the passion in every college football fan. A multitude of interactive games to test your athletic skills, a variety of inflatables for kids of all ages to enjoy and all of your tailgating concession essentials make this a Tailgate Party not to miss!
THE BIG GAME! ALLTEL Stadium: 12:00 Noon
16 december 28-january 3, 2006 | entertaining u newspaper club paris
Downtown New Year’s
Check out the New Year’s Eve Party in the Jacksonville Landing Courtyard Festivities include live enter- tainment at The Landing stage. Club Paris will be injecting some style into the Landing festivities with Fred’s New Years Royal Black and White Tie Party! Packages range from $30 for first floor admission up to the most excusive VIP lounge. Call (904) 918-3999 for VIP details and (904) 633-9477 to reserve other tickets. At Twisted Martini a variety of VIP packages are available, with champagne menus all night, party favors, live feed of Times Square on 10 TV’s and 4 big screens. As usual they only serve the finest premium sprits. Space is limited so make your reservations today. (904) 353-8464 Count down to 2007 with a spectacular fireworks display over the St. Johns River to light up the night sky and celebrate the New Year. Watch the New Year’s Eve Fireworks Spectacular at Midnight from the Landing or anywhere else in Downtown Jacksonville with a view of the river. Presented by The City of Jack- sonville. VyStar Credit Union 5K Run is at 2PM at the Jacksonville Landing. The VyStar Financial Group 5K Run is a great way to get involved with all the excitement the Toyota Gator Bowl has to offer. If running, walking, or biking is your thing, this race is for you. The race is held right before the Gator Bowl Parade, and runs along the parade route through downtown Jacksonville. Each entrant will receive a VyStar Credit Union 5K Run T- shirt. Cost: $17 until December 24, $20 December 25-30 and $25 on race day.
Clubs & Bars
At Aromas the cigars are included at this semi-upscale wine and cigar bar. Black Tie, Black Jeans, Who Cares!! The starts at 9PM at both locations (Southside and Ponte Vedra) with party favors and a champagne toast. Call (904) 280-2525 (PVB)/ (904) 928-0515 for ticket reservations. The Atlantic will have party favors, a special sushi menu and the traditional champagne toast. They’re open through 4AM www.the-atlantic.com (904)249-3338. Martini’s & Club Vegas New Year’s Eve Blowout $10 All U Can Drink Blowout including Champagne - DJ KGB & DJ Coop Brink in the New Year. Martini’s & Club Vegas, 1187 Edgewood Ave South - 9:29 pm New Year’s Eve Party with Big Al & the Kaholics at Cheers! Cheers will be having a champagne toast at midnight, party favors, and the place will be decorated like Times Square. The kitchen will be open until 10 pm for those last minute appetizers to soak up the alcohol. Cover charge $10, Cheers in Mandarin, 11475 San Jose Blvd., 9:30pm-1:30am. Just a $10 cover will grant you access to all of Bourbon Street Station, Crazy Horse Saloon, Mardi Gras, the Latin Quarter, the Blue Room and the Varsity Club. Expect lots of prizes, with one giveaway every 15 minutes starting at 9PM, including a 2 karat diamond tennis bracelet and $10,000 in cash prizes. A com- plimentary champagne toast will happen at midnight. (904) 641-8777 Have a funky blues New Year with Mofro at Freebird. New Year’s Eve Mofro plays with the Lee Boys. Cost is $28 prior and $30 the day of the show. 246-BIRD (2473) Latitudes Café and Martini Bar. All you can eat and drink, live music, party favors and a champagne toast for just $60 in advance or $70 at the door. (904) 247-6606 Ocean Club party ‘till 4AM, with a balloon drop and champagne toast at midnight. Watch a live feed of Times Square for the big ball drop www.oceanclubjax.com (904) 242-8884 If you haven’t been to Square One, New Year’s Eve just might be the time to check it out. Located in the San Marco shopping district of Jacksonville, it’s where you can celebrate the New Year in style with El Toro Loco, party favors and the standard champagne toast. The infamous Tradewinds Lounge will be partying New Year’s in St. Augustine. It’s the the oldest lounge in the oldest city. Limited seating with live music by Matanzas. 124 Charlotte St.(904)829-9336 For a quintessential Florida experience, head to Whitey’s Fish Camp in Orange Park. Once again the Boogie Freaks will entertain. There will be giveaways all night, a balloon drop, champagne toast and breakfast at midnight. Come in a boat and stay all night! Bloody Mary’s served in the AM. Call (904)269-4198
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eujacksonville.com | december 28-january 3, 2006 17 music from Greek Wave. Leg of lamb, whole roasted snapper, baklava and a chocolate fountain are the Celebrate New Year’s in a Hotel Club/Pub Crawl in main attractions. The cost is $100 per person. There’s going to be a great party at the Beaches Most every hotel with a restaurant and bar will be holding some kind of New Year’s bash, get a room Style Woman’s Club at 2nd Avenue North and Penman so you can just trundle up to bed after getting completely snockered. The beaches have a myriad of bar/hotel Road for New Year’s Eve. It will be catered by JJ’s options. Here’s just two of the places you can go in Ponte Verdra, St. Augstine and Amelia Island: River City Social & Travel Club’s Annual New Bistro of Ponte Vedra and for an evening with Rod At the Ritz-Carlton in Amelia Island, you can take in New Year’s Eve at their Glacial Gala at the Polar Bar Year’s Eve Pub Crawl can help you bar hop in Stewart Tribute Artist Kenny Holliday. There will be featuring a martini ice luge. Take a walk in the ice garden, enjoy live music, dancing, extravagant buffet, open three different neighborhoods (The Beaches, a complimentary Champagne Toast at midnight. The bar, complimentary champagne and midnight fireworks. Cost is $175 per person. There are also packages Southside and Orange Park) without getting a proceeds of the evening will go to benefit Make A that include rooms. Call (904) 277-1028 for info. DUI. Starting at one of four stops in each area, Wish foundation to finish off their Children Of Light SwingIn’ the New Year 2007. Popular ‘60s you will be transported via bus to a different campaign. Please come out and celebrate this great band The Swingin’ Medallions will return to Northeast pub, bar or restaurant every hour until arriving cause. Tickets are $65.00/each. If you wish to out of town Florida to again perform at the big New Year’s Eve at your last destination, located at or near your purchase a ticket; please call Donna LeTellier at 537- bash at The Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village starting hotel/bar, in time for your champagne 1629 to reserve. See the Tybee Beach Fireworks at the in St. Augustine. Famous for such classics as the mil- toast to ring in the new year. The cost is only Tybee Island Pier in Georgia on the corner of lion-selling “Double Shot (of My Baby’s Love)” and $39.95 if purchased NOW and $49.95 shortly, Tybrisa St. & Strand Ave. Fireworks will launch “Hey, Hey, Baby”, The Swingin’ Medallions are known pending availability. They highly recommend New Year’s Eve, at midnight to celebrate the New Year. Come for their impressive stage shows, and are often you get a room, and to make it even easier early to capture that perfect spot in the sand. called “The Party Band of the South.” The “SwingIn’ by arranging for reduced rates at various area Theater Style Free parking. Earlier in the day you can take the the New Year 2007” festivities will be on Sunday, hotels. Go to http://www.rivercityclub.com/ Polar Bear Plunge, meeting at 9AM to take a December 31, 2006 in the resort’s St. Augustine for more information or call (904) 505-4746. Take in New Year’s at the “Pelican Club” for a plunge into the icy Atlantic precisely at Noon. Ballroom. The Renaissance Resort is offering several trip down memory lane to the nightclub era, the 20’s Last year over 3,000 people participated some New Year’s Eve packages. “The Party Package” is thru the 40’s. The show starts at 8:30pm - 1:00 am in costumes, even a wedding dress or two. $125 per person (plus tax), and it includes admission at Players By The Sea Tickets are $50.00 in advance to the party, a four-course buffet dinner, an open bar Limited VIP seating available ON THE STAGE! Table throughout the evening, champagne toast at mid- for 2 including a bottle of Champagne is $150.00 Martini Bar, Beer, Wine, after show hor doerves and sodas night, party favors, a huge balloon drop, and a “Resolution Breakfast” after midnight. Other packages include included. deluxe accommodations for one or two nights as well as golf packages. For reservations, or for information Not everyone lives to see the new year when Murder Mystery Players, Inc. serve up hearty laughs with a on any of the packages, call (904) 940-8000 or (888) 740-7020, or visit www. WorldGolfRenaissance.com. special New Year’s Eve at Dave & Buster’s. This fun-filled, interactive, murder mystery includes dinner as well You can party, eat fabulous food or both at the Marriot Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra. Packages run from as the performance. The evening begins at 8:00pm. Audience members have a chance to win prizes and decide $49-$99. Choose from two venues within the hotel. There will be a Vegas style casino for entertainment as who did what to whom. New Year’s Eve will never be the same as guests enjoy passed hors d’oeuvres, a chef- well as live acts and all the usual drinks and favors. (904) 285-7777. crafted four-course meal, complimentary power card, champagne toast, midnight celebration, and a hilarious mystery performance. The package price is $130.00 per couple + tax and gratuity. To make reservations for this hilarious evening of murder mystery and audience participation, call Dave & Buster’s at (904) 296-1525. Reservations are required, as seating is limited. www.mysteryplayers.com. New Years Eve Eats Get to the Comedy Zone for a night of laughs, food, drinks and dancing. A lavish buffet in GiGi’s with prime rib and crab legs, favors, a champagne toast and comics Ronnie Bullard, Tim Statum and Al Ernst are part of You’ll need to make a reservation at any of these restaurants for New Year’s Eve. Call quickly because they fill the evening. Tickets are $69.97 per person plus tax. You can also separately arrange to stay at the Ramada Inn. up fast. All the costs don’t include tax or gratuity. (904) 268-8080 The Grape (904) 642-7111 and Simon’s (904) 396-8088 are both wine bars that will feature a great At Atlantic Theatres, this year’s theme is going to be everything 007 and feature several rooms with vari- spread for New Year’s Eve. Call for reservations, they are both filling up fast. The Grape will have a six course ous activities and screenings. Music will be provided by DJ Casey, of the Maxim national tour, local celebrity DJ wine dinner at $100 a person, including a champagne toast. Simons will have a multiple course dinner paired Kevin Durgin and DJ Infader. Jon’Ra will headline a special live musical performance later in the evening. with wine and a midnight toast as well. Food, valet parking, and a complimentary champagne toast will be included. Tickets:$50 for General / $90 If you’re heading for an Irish pub keep in mind that most of them celebrate New Year’s twice. Once at each for VIP. Atlantic Theatres, 751 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach - 8 pm Info: 249.PLAY (7529) or info@ 7PM, when Ireland rings in the New Year, and once at Midnight. Fionn MacCools VIP package will include an atlantictheatres.com. open bar and a three course meal at $100 per person. Don’t Tell Amy will be the live entertainment from 9PM on. Culhane’s will have two seatings, one at 7PM and one at 9PM for $60 a person. Expect a sumptuous set menu. other Bashes and Entertainment The Casa Marina Hotel & Restaurant (904) 270-0025 will be holding a Greek themed New Year’s with
Beach Blast Off 2007 in St. Augustine Beach There won’t be another place you’ll rather be than St. Augustine Beach to kick off another great year! Enjoy a blast of flavor, icy sculptures and fireworks when several St. Augustine favorite restaurants serve up chili recipes for tasting and judging at the Fire and Ice Chili Cook-off from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. While tasting these fiery delights, enjoy the icy art of professional ice sculptor, Mike Riesmeyer. After things cool off from the chili – the Fireworks begin at 7:30 p.m. This display will stun visitors and help usher in the New Year! Sunday, Dec. 31, 2006, St. Johns County Fishing Pier and Pavilion
18 december 28-january 3, 2006 | entertaining u newspaper Info: (904) 829-5681 or www.stjohnscountychamber.com Ripley’s Rock’n New Years Train Join the Red Trains and rock into the New Year on Ripley’s Rock’n New Years Train. Enjoy music from de- New Year’s Day For the Kids cades past while you and your family ride through town enjoying the night sights! Start the New Year off right with good will and good cheer! Tuesday, Dec. 26 – Saturday, Dec. 30, 2006 at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum or City Gates Train Station, 6 pm to 9 pm, Admission: $6 adults, $3 children. Info: (904) 824-1606 The Got Milk? Half Pint Judges Contest or www.redtrains.com. At 3PM on December 31st in Downtown Jacksonville. Five winners from a contest conducted by the Flor- ida Dairy Farmers and the Gator Bowl Association will be selected to judge the 2006 Winn-Dixie Home- 30TH ANNUAL, NEW YEAR’S BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL! Don’t miss these 3 days inside Georgia’s Jekyll town Gator Bowl Parade. The contest is open to all Jacksonville-area children between the ages of 6 and Island Convention Center. If you love Bluegrass, December 28th Audie Blaylock & Redline, The Steep Canyon 12. Kids entering the contest are asked to complete the sentence: “When I’ve got milk? I’ve got a smile Rangers, The Primitive Quartet, The Larry Stephenson Band and Nothin’ Fancy. Friday, December 30th Wil- because...” The winners of the contest are declared Got Milk? Half Pint Judges. They are responsible for liams & Clark Expedition, The Gary Waldrep Band, The Village Singers, Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top selecting one favorite float from the 2006 Winn-Dixie Hometown Gator Bowl Parade, from a kid’s point of X-Press, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver Pine Mountain Railroad. Saturday, December 30th The Carolina Road view, to receive the Got Milk? Half Pint Award. The little judges will receive “Got Milk?” items and prizes Bank, The Bluegrass Brothers, The Cherryholmes Family, The Josh Crowe Band, The Lewis Family, Jesse and will ride in the 2006 Winn-Dixie Hometown Gator Bowl Parade to be held on Sunday, December 31, McReynolds & The VA Boys, Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys! Go to www.aandabluegrass.com for 2006. Contact: Pat Corda (904) 798-1700 tickets and details. (707) 864-7203. The Annual Noon Years Eve Balloon Drop At Adventure Landing from 10:00AM-2:00PM on New Year’s Eve Day kids will like the The Annual Noon Years Eve Balloon Drop with over 500 prize filled balloons for 3 different age groups: 4 & Under, 5 – 8 & 9 – 12. Unlimited Go-Karts, Laser Tag & Mini Golf from 10:00AM-2:00PM for only $10.00. Special must be purchased to participate in balloon drop (4 & under FREE). Visit www.adventurelanding.com or call (904) 246-4386 for more information!. Noon Year’s Eve at the Jacksonville Zoo with Radio Disney 3...2...1... Happy Noon Year’s Eve!! Help ring in the New Year at the Jacksonville Zoo with Radio Dis- ney’s Noon Year’s Eve celebration! They’ll pass out the party hats and noisemakers and count down the minutes until 2007 with music and entertainment and do an apple juice toast at 12 noon. Enjoy Colum- bia Recording artists, The Beau Sisters. And have fun with Radio Disney AM 600’s own “Spikey T” and welcome special guest host, “Ernie D” - national Radio Disney afternoon show personality. December 31 from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm. Jacksonville Zoo’s Winter Break Holiday Festival December 26, 2006 - January 6, 2007 Join the crew at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens as they celebrate the New Year with music from around the world. Kids will enjoy the giant inflatable slides and bouncy house, face painting, and animal encounters as well as different entertainment planned for each day. Call 757-4463 or check the website www.jaxzoo.org for a schedule of each day’s activities and hours of operation.
Noon Year’s Eve at the Zoo with Radio Disney.
eujacksonville.com | december 28-january 3, 2006 19 a year in music punk is not dead, it’s just inconsistent By Jon Bosworth looking At the beginning of 2006, everything looked bleak, musically. Bush’s war in Iraq was spurring all of these protest albums that were musically half-hearted. Instead of the traditional Green Day, we had the American Idiot Green Day which resorted to name-calling and flat attempts at depth. Instead of the funky fresh Beastie Boys, we had three old DJs slapping together a poorly concocted rap album, To the Five Burroughs full of political protest songs. These 2005 releases set the musical tone for 2006. We wanted to be the 60s. Iraq was becoming our Vietnam. The final blow that determined that fact to be that case was the release of At War with the Mystics back at by The Flaming Lips. I was getting geared up for the first Flaming Lips live appearance in Florida in almost fifteen years down at a festival in the Everglades this spring when I finally purchased their new 2006 record. It was self-righteous and loaded with social and political messages. I don’t mind my favorite artists sharing their beliefs with me as an avid listener and fan, it brings me closer to them in a sense. january But when the music isn’t up to par with the artist’s usual creativity and spends a great deal of time ∙ Campaign to save the Haydon Burns Library downtown. Peterbrooke Chocolatier showed interest in tak- preaching to me, I grow disappointed. Normally I would listen to a new Flaming Lips album over and ing over the old library and turning it into their main factory as well as a Willy Wonka sort of an entertainment over, but the more I listened to At War with the Mystics, the more annoyed I grew. I finally gave the destination. Enough people were skeptical about the entertaining value of chocolate to put the kibosh on the record away and decided not to buy tickets to the Florida show for fear that it would tarnish my memory idea, but enough people were also determined not to let this architectural treasure be torn down. The com- of their last show. promise came in the form of a multiple-tenant concept which will include adding residential space on top of I quickly decided that my search for good music was going to take me away from my traditional the library and converting the current space to accommodate a grocery store, a restaurant, a night club, and mainstays. So the hunt began. My friend Bob Maynard told me about an experimental, instrumental rock perhaps even more. band that had John Stanier, the drummer for Helmet, Ian Williams, the guitarist for Don Cabelleros, and Tyondai Braxton, an experimental electronic musician and the son of jazz legend Anthony Braxton. I went ∙ Sam Alito became a Supreme Court Justice. to Inertia Records, the new record store in Five Points, and they had never heard of BATTLES. I looked around online and could only find their ambiguous website. I had no way of hearing them. So I did the unthinkable. I downloaded everything of theirs that I could find. That was still not very much music. So I february went to Moon Colony Razorblade. ∙ The one billionth song was sold on iTunes. ∙ A JCCI study determined that Jacksonville’s murder Moon Colony Razorblade opened a great record store downtown loaded with indie rock gems. ∙ 2006 Winter Olympics took place in Torino. rate was far greater than expected, more than double This store affected much of my music experience in 2006. Many of my favorite albums of 2006 were ∙ Dick Cheney shot his friend in the face while hunt- last year’s. purchased there. Because the store opened and closed this same year, Moon Colony is one of those ing. ∙ U2 and Kanye West sweep the Grammys. experiences that is exclusive to 2006. Records I Purchased at Moon Colony Razorblade in 2006: march ∙ Immigration march took place in Los Angeles. Johnny Cash – American V; A Hundred Highways Flaming Lips – At War with the Mystics ∙ Mark’s, a bar on Bay Street downtown, opened. th Kind of Like Spitting – Bridges Worth Burning ∙ Jon Stewart hosted the 78 Annual Academy Awards. BATTLES – EP/CB EP Death From Above 1979 – You’re a Woman I’m a Machine Emperor X – Central Hug/Friendarmy/Fractal Dunes april Built to Spill – You in Reverse ∙ Moon Colony Razorblade opened. This promising new indie rock record store opened its doors downtown I had a lot of hope for the local music scene in 2006. In addition to Brass Castle being my hands- and hosted great in-store shows. Founded by local rockers Cash Carter of the Cadets and Max Wood of Ap- down favorite band of 2006, the Cadets were getting back together and working on a new album, and plied Communication, they already had all the cool a record store needs to succeed. They brought in national Shangrala had begun recording their first full-length. I also saw some great bands get together and split acts to perform in the store and featured the best selection of pop-culture and counter-culture music, litera- up. From Crash the Satellites kicking out Heath Valdez, one of Jacksonville’s best musicians, to Chinese ture, and clothes for indie rockers. We all hoped it would live long and prosper. Horses, this amazing and promising new instrumental band that never seemed to play when I would ∙ Pope John Paul II died and Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was named Pope Benedict XVI. show up to their show, many lineups changed, but at least those bands stuck it out and are still making the music we love. The real disappointment is the bands that couldn’t even last a single year, in spite of their showmanship live. may Bands that Formed & Split in 2006; May They Rest in Pieces: ∙ Jacksonville Film Festival. Lonely Hearts, the feature film staring John Travolta and James Gandolfini, which was filmed in Jacksonville, opened at the Jacksonville Film Festival. Other movies with local associa- The Yusge – This two-piece was just a drummer and a bassist, but they rocked. Not only did they have tions that debuted at the Jacksonville Film Festival include Cocaine Angel and Jumping off Bridges. an uncanny ability to keep you interested with a perpetually changing series of hooks and bass lines, but they were high energy and mastered that clinging to the silence that makes a band sound tight even if ∙ Bush’s approval ratings hit an all-time low. they aren’t. Animal Fight – The toast of the Conmoto Trench Festival, this highly anticipated band featured the recently wounded Jason Jewell, who had been in a near-death car accident less than three weeks before this performance, but still managed to rock solid, along with some of the Jacksonville punk scene’s june staple performers such as Dylan Louvier, Mike Arnold, and Josh Dunn on keyboard and vocals. ∙ Club Paris opened in the Jacksonville Landing. On the heels of enormous Superbowl buzz, the opening Jet Fighter – This half serious half-kitsch band played anthemic songs that paid tribute to the eighties gala was all tiara’s and boas as clubbers hoped to catch a glimpse of the actual Paris Hilton. She, however, and made you laugh out loud. Like many bands in the River City, they fought over girls, control of the was actually in Paris that weekend and did not make an appearance. A celebrity that did, however, was Mayor band, and egos. They finally split up sometime after the summer, although Alex Moore will sometimes John Peyton. It was the first time in 2006 that many locals saw the mayor anywhere. still play as Jet Fighter. ∙ National “Go Skate Day” takes over downtown Jacksonville. – This promising mix of Terry Case (once member of Trouble Is and Crash the Satellites), New Berlin ∙ Aaron Spelling died. Cash Carter (of Cadets fame), and Amy Moore played minor-chord songs of postmodern complexity. Their music had a machine-like drone and Terry’s vocals gave it a texture that, while similar to Joe Parker from Hand of the Host, had a unique quality that likened it to something more contemporary. Unfortunately all of them had busy lives outside of the band that affected their ability to be inside of the july band. ∙ Previous Crush owners take over Nosh at 9th & Main. 9th & Main’s owner, Craig Van Horn, once again Great Bands I Discovered in 2006: changes up his whole concept. First it was Henrietta’s, featuring a delightful southern and Caribbean fusion cuisine. Craig shut that down and turned it into Nosh. Utilizing the great live room they had, they created a live BATTLES music venue with a great sound system, a nice stage, and outstanding acoustics. But then there was some Death from Above 1979 mix up that caused the whole place to get shut down. Finally Erika and Jeff, who had opened Crush in River- My Toy Heart ... continued on page 21 sidebar side, took over the restaurant operations and have since resurrected the constantly in flux establishment.
20 december 28-january 3, 2006 | entertaining u newspaper Ultra Dolphins Kickball Solid Pony Chinese Horses Holopaw Black Kids
So all in all it has been a year, and from iPod to Myspace, the way people find their music is looking constantly changing, but the quality of music is not decreasing, it’s just that we do not have to rely on the major labels to provide it. My favorite playlist right now consists entirely of local music I have downloaded from Myspace. From the lo-fi hits of Tuffy to the always engaging new tracks from The Cadets and even some new recordings by Shangrala, there is plenty of new music available, it just takes a little more work in this new era. But your reward for that increased workload is music that suits your tastes more adequately. So you don’t have to say you like Coldplay just because everyone else does. You can find something that is your little secret and your friends will be amazed when they visit your back at 2006 Myspace and discover some band that really rocks, even if they never made the Billboard charts. ∙ Italy Beats France in the World Cup a year in food food highlights of 2006 By Erin Thursby
august Most of the major food news this year had to do with heath scares and controversial new laws. ∙ Justin Barber’s murder trial. In 2002, Justin Barber and his young wife were celebrating their anniversary Here’s the scoop on 2006’s food news and a rundown on some of the local eatery openings and clos- when she was murdered and he was shot by an “unknown assailant.” The trial was broadcast on Court TV ings. and he was found guilty of the murder by a St. Augustine jury. Dateline NBC went on to showcase the trial and Barber’s story on their national broadcast. National/Statewide In April of 2006, Chicago’s City Council voted to ban the sale of foie gras, effective August 2006. ∙ Mark Foley sex scandal hit the national press. In response, several Chicago chefs have filed suit and deliberately violated the law by continuing to sell foie gras. Some chefs are serving foie gras without charge, which is not against the letter of the law. Even for establishments that are violating the law, the City is issuing warning letters but no citations. september This month, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley referred to the ban as “the silliest law” the Council has ever passed. ∙ Cecil Field debates. After the crushing blow of losing the Cecil Field Air Station, Jacksonville recouped Florida passed a new pet and food law in July, allowing dog owners to legally have their dogs in from the damages and developers lept into action. FCCJ took over the facility for educational; purposes and an outdoor eatery. Locally, Ole Mexican Restaurant near Regency Square partnered with Miss Daisy’s neighborhoods started springing up around Chaffee Road and the surrounding areas. As these communities Delights, a gourmet pet bakery for Mutts & Margaritas on Monday nights. developed and more and more private citizens invested in their own property, Navy activist groups petitioned September’s Spinach E. Coli scare had grocers pulling bagged spinach from the shelves. It was that the land be made available to the military again, although the military had shown no interest in taking harder to find fresh spinach for a while; though organic markets like Native Sun Natural Food Market advantage of it even if it was made available. Voters finally closed the issue by electing not to turn the land carried fresh bunches rather than bagged. back over to the Navy. On December 5th New York City passed a law that will ban trans fats in all restaurants. By 2008 ∙ The Dive bar downtown opened. nothing with trans fats can be used as an ingredient and by July of 2007, no trans fat oil can be used ∙ Randall Terry Ran for state senate. in cooking. Since the rest of the country often follows New York’s lead and because many chains are ∙ Fred Khalilian, owner of Jacksonville’s Club Paris, was arrested at the Beaches for refusing to pay his tab at based in New York, this will have a massive effect on the national food industry. The Ritz in Jacksonville Beach. The matter was resolved and the charges were dropped the following week. Notable Local Restaurant Openings and Closings This Year January Pubwise Shannon’s Irish Pub held its grand opening in time for last year’s New Year’s and october several other restaurants from the new Bartram Oaks Walk (Bistro 101, Blue Fin), made their mark in ∙ Conmoto Trench Festival. Jason Jewell of Bojack was in a terrible car wreck, but still managed to play the the Mandarin area in 2006. A new sports bar, Jerry’s Sports Grille provides a decent nosh for sports Trench Festival, bandages and all. More than 80 bands performed at 5 venues downtown, including Tuffy, fans; it opened in January on Atlantic Boulevard near Hodges. Plaza III The Steakhouse opened at the Shangrala, Crash the Satellites, Julius Airwave, and Environmental Youth Crunch. Hyatt. The result of a partnership between Bob Green and Matthew Medure, the tapas bar Fuseboxx was hot as soon it hit the Southside scene. ∙ Herschell Gordon Lewis hosted the first of the TALKIES series at the San Marco Theatre. He performed the theme song to his classic gore film Two Thousand Maniacs with local musician Chris Estes on banjo, then February Magellan’s Oceanfront Restaurant was converted into the more casual Breakwater Bar provided live commentary on the film. & Grille. Lighthouse Grille was closed to make room for waterside condos. Many lamented. ∙ Jacksonville’s Shrug Records released its first 7 inch by Shana David. March Takeya Japanese Steakhouse, Fusion and Sushi in Orange Park opened. Nosh replaced ∙ Jacksonville’s hip-hop documentary Grind 2 Shine debuted at the Florida Theatre. Henrietta’s in Springfield. ∙ Jacksonville business owner sends video of a homeless man defecating in the streets of downtown Jack- April Layla’s of San Marco, a Middle Eastern themed hooka bar and eatery opened. sonville to city councilmen. Local bloggers went wild. ∙ Google purchased You Tube $1.65 Billion. May The owner and founder of European Street, Lewis N. Zarka, who established four European ∙ US Population reached 300 Million. Street Cafe restaurants in Jacksonville died in a car accident. June Aurathai opened in Murray Hill. Justin Sellas, son of the owners of Taste of Thai, decided to open his own place with his own stamp on things. He named the restaurant to honor his mother Au- november rathai Sellas. ∙ Moon Colony Razorblade Closed its doors, proving downtown still not ready for retail. July The Tasting Room opened in St. Augustine, owned by Christine & Michael McMillan and Michael Nease High School got in trouble with the FHSAA for making improper deals with athletes. Lugo of Opus 39. ∙ Democrats swept the midterm elections. September Whale Bone Grille changed hands, becoming Ragland, with the same owners as Fuel. ∙ Donald Rumsfeld Resigned. ∙ Robert Altman Died. October Lily Bistro, across from St. Luke’s Hospital on Belfort closed. Chew, a righteously upscale ∙ Borat hit the big screen. sandwich bistro, opened downtown. November A team from the First Coast Technical Institute’s School of Culinary Arts became state champion. The competition tested basic cooking skills and methods. Also, Angelo’s, Arlington’s favorite december Italian restaurant re-opened (SEE PAGE 15 for the full article). ∙ Flagler City was the location of Dateline’s “To Catch a Predator” series. In this series reporter Chris December Mojo Kitchen in Jacksonville Beach was opened this month by Todd Lineberry, who also Hansen baits sexual predators through Internet chat rooms and then captures them on tape in a private home owns the fab Mojo Bar-B-Que. The Chop House, serving upscale meat dinners, opened next to Tinsel- where they come to engage in illicit acts with an underage girl and are subsequently arrested by local police. town, in a location that seems to be ill-fated. It once housed Legendz, and less recently Gallery Bistro. An area police sheriff was one of the predators caught during this investigation. The episode is scheduled to air in 2007.
eujacksonville.com | december 28-january 3, 2006 21 live music bluegrass greats - old & new shows calendar THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28 cherryholmes family band - interview Open Mic w/Colleen Murphy Trade Winds Lounge, noon and ends at 11PM on Saturday. Call (706) 864- St. Augustine (829-8646) by Erin thursby [email protected] 7203 for tickets and info. You can choose a three The Committee Cortesse’s, St. Augustine (825-6775) we needed to do for family day pass, or just go for a single day of bluegrass togetherness was to start play- fun. Get special hotel rates for bluegrass fans at the Gutterboy Cecil’s, Jax (744-5132) ing music together.” The family Jekyll Oceanfront Resort from $50-85. Ask for spe- Switchback Roadhouse, Orange Park (264-0611) didn’t start with the intention of cial bluegrass rate 1-800-736-1046. Nathan Holley Bukkets, Jax Beach (246-7701) professionally playing music, The AB’s, Swordz, Rob Roy Jack Rabbits, Jax (398-7496) but they began getting requests New Year’s Bluegrass Festival Schedule to play at events and festivals. Thursday, December 28th Big Engine Coyote’s, Orange Park (269-6837) Soon they were a real band, The Gillis Brothers @ noon Lisa & the Mad Hatters Reni’s, Jax (880-1111) making a decent amount of The Lost and Found @12:50PM Dot Wilder Jazz Quartet Layla’s, Jax money on the side, but Jere The Larry Stephenson Band@1:40PM Narcotic Nation Kountry Tavern, Jax (766-9138) was still working so they were Jesse McReynolds & the VA Boys@2:30PM “somewhat limited as to how Larry Sparks & the Lonesome Ramblers@3:20PM Kings of Hell Sun Dog Steak & Seafood, Neptune Beach (241-8221) far we could go…so in 2002 The Country Gentlemen@4:10PM Sandy and I sat down and Supper Break@5:00PM Undertones Mercury Moon, Orange Park (215-8999) talked about it…either we were The Gillis Brothers@6PM Spare Change Café Bolero, Jax (641-3442) going to do it or we were going The Lost and Found@6:45 Mariachi Guadalajara Jimadores, Jax (739-5828) to have to back off, finish rais- The Larry Stephenson Band@7:30 PM Porcelain Black French Quarter, Jax (732-9550) ing the kids, but, we decided to Jesse Reynolds & the VA Boys@8:15PM What: Bluegrass Festival give it a shot.” The Country Gentlemen@10:00PM Boogie Freaks Square One, Jax (306-9004) When: Thursday, December 28th - 30th When the family first formed the band, the kids Wes Cobb Fly’s Tie Irish Pub, Atlantic Beach (246-4293) Where: Jekyll Island ranged in age from about age 6 to 15. Since the Friday, December 29th The Wailers Freebird Live, Jax Beach (246-2473) family was already homeschooling, the transition to The James King Band@noon Cornerstone The Mill Top, St. Augustine (829-2329) Get down to the sweet sound of the banjo and the road wasn’t very difficult as far as school was David Peterson &1946@12:50PM wicked fiddle solos! Make the trek for the 31st annual concerned. “There’s a lot of hours driving around on The Gary Waldrep Band@1:40PM One Eighty Coyote’s, Orange Park (269-6837) Bluegrass Festival at Georgia’s Jekyll Island to enjoy the bus, perfect time to do schoolwork…We started The Issacs@2:30 PM Vudublu Ragtime Tavern, Atlantic Beach (241-7877) three days of some of the best bluegrass artists in homeschooling about 15 years ago…that just really Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver@3:20 PM Cashous Clay, Duval Boyz, Swordz TSI, Jax (635-3024) the country. It’s just about an hour and twenty-five worked out for us…Skip, our youngest son is just The Grascals@4:20 PM Ron Rodriguez Mellow Mushroom, Jax (997-1955) minutes by car to go from Jacksonville to Jekyll about ready to finish up, he’s a senior…after this Supper Break@5:10PM Island to listen to old-timers and relative newcomers year there will only be one [Molly] that will be in The James King Band@6:00PM Chuck Nash My Place, Jax (737-5299) to bluegrass. school.” David Peterson & 1946@6:45PM Al Maniscalco The Brick, Jax (387-0606) Bands like Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver have They started touring in a 1960’s VW bus but The Gary Waldrep Band@7:30 PM John Winters Creekside Dinery, St. Augustine (829-6113) been giving the world bluegrass harmonies since they’ve traded it in. “It never left us on the side of the The Issacs@8:15PM Little Green Men West Inn Cantina, Jax (389-1131) the 1970s, but many of the groups playing at the road…but it was a bit smaller and I was putting so Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver@9:00 PM fest have only been part of the circuit since the late many miles on it that I was concerned that it would The Grascals@10:00 PM De Lions of Jah Twisted Sisters, Jax Beach (241-6453) 90s. Family-based bluegrass groups are a staple of start breaking…Last year I drove in excess of 80 Thirteenth Stone, Nightmare in Daylight Elixir, the genre, and more than a few of these groups will thousand miles…[1960] was actually the last year Saturday, December 30th Orange Park (215-4400) be at the fest. The Gillis Brothers, The Lewis Family, they made that model and once you start breaking The Carolina Road Band@noon Freeze Frame Fionn Maccool’s, Jax Beach (242-9499) The Issacs and Cherry Holmes are just a few of the things you’re for looking parts that are at least that David Parmley & Continential Divide12:50PM Chapter XI, The Band Aids Thee Imperial, Jax (475-0488) familial groups. old or older.” Lou Reid & Carolina@1:40PM In 2000 Jere asked his oldest daughter Cia to The Lewis Family@2:30PM Mr. Natural Whitey’s Fish Camp, Orange Park (269-4198) I interviewed CherryHolmes’ patriarch, Jere, for EU just two days before Christmas. The group is switch from guitar to banjo. “You just can’t have CherryHolmes@3:20PM Neil Freestone A1A Aleworks, St. Augustine (829-2977) made up of Jere, wife Sandy and their four children bluegrass without a banjo, so I asked her to switch. Supper Break@4:10PM Cia, B.J., Skip and Molly. Jere wanted to use blue- She taught our son guitar and he switched to guitar.” The Carolina Road Band@5:15PM THURSDAY-SAT., DEC. 28-30 grass music as a way to heal his family and bring CherryHolmes has gained popularity since David Parmley & Continental Divide@6:05PM they played their first paying gig. They won the 2005 Lou Reid & Carolina@6:55PM Those Guys The Oasis, St. Augustine (471-3424) them together. “In 1999, our oldest daughter passed away…she was about 21 and in the aftermath we IMBA Entertainer of the year and have appeared at Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys@7:45PM Blistur Rivers Edge, Fernandina (491-3849) attended a bluegrass festival out in California…and the Grand Ole Opry about 23 times this year. The Lewis Family@9:15PM enjoyed ourselves so much that I decided that what The Bluegrass Festival begins on Thursday at CherryHolmes@10:05PM
22 december 28-january 3, 2006 | entertaining u newspaper FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29 Dana Salmela Cross Creek Restaurant, Jax matt collins Aachers New Arrival French Quarter, Jax (732-9550) Bakersville Conspiracy Club Fusion, St. Augustine (829-8333) acoustic wizardry with a strong voice at Freeze Frame Monkey’s Uncle, Jax Beach (246-1070) Nate Holley Mellow Mushroom, Jax (997-1955) Pauly’s Pizza Mystery Band, Turning Point Band The Landing, Jax Deblois Twisted Sisters, Jax Beach (241-6453) by Rick grant [email protected] The Company Cortesse’s, St. Augustine (825-6775) It was a strange scene at Pauly’s Pizza when only goal is to give 100% of myself to H.A.S.H., Rehab Reunion Show Thee Imperial, Jax (475-0488) I arrived to cover Matt Collins. Lynyrd Skynyrd was each night to whomever will listen, and Band of Destiny, Leon “Timbo” Seymore Boomtown, Jax (632-0099) performing a concert on the flat screen TV (muted) hope that they will enjoy themselves as above the stage while singer/songwriter Matt Collins much as I enjoy performing,” Brad Payne All-Stars Sports Bar, St. Augustine (827-9842) was performing his catchy original music. For me, it Matt has been working on his first Johnny Flood Aromas, Jax (928-0515) was a bizarre juxtaposition, sending my conscious- solo CD, Matt Collins Short & Sweet and Infocus Duo River City Brewing Company, Jax (398-2299) ness into a then-and-now time-warp. As Bob Dylan it is finally finished. What started out as BayStreet Tom & Betty’s, Jax (387-3311) said after his 1960s Newport Folk festival debacle, in an idea for a somewhat bare-bones live which he and The Band went electric, causing a near CD back in January of this year, has been Stu Weaver Outlet Mall, St. Augustine riot by folk purists, “It’s all music.” through many changes and several stu- Lorenzo & the All Stars West Inn Cantina, Jax (389-1131) Indeed, Matt Collins is forging his own path as dios in a couple of different states. Souler System Chicago’s Pizza, St. Augustine a singer/songwriter. He is a 27 year old veteran of “My recordings were mixed by Jon Dang!, Dash Rip Rock Jack Rabbits, Jax (398-7496) playing in rock bands during his U of F college years. Kaplan in New York City. I plan to stage During that time, Matt discovered he could write a CD release party in Jax, January 27, at Box Rockers Scarlett’s, St. Augustine (824-6535) melodic songs that went over well with audiences. Jack Rabbits. I will be sharing the stage The Last Guardian Murray Hill Theatre, Jax (388-7807) While still in Gainesville, Matt joined the band The with Alt-country band from Raleigh, N.C. The Shylights Yesterdays, Jax (387-0502) Treatment and played with them for twelve years. called Chatham County Line,” Matt said. Yankee Slickers Coyote’s, Orange Park (269-6837) They recorded three albums the third of which was Matt’s set at Pauly’s Pizza, where he White Bread on Cinemark Records. gigs every Friday from 6:00 to 10:00 pm, Jager Dave On the Rocks, Jax (685-5268) In 2005, the group released an EP titled Wake showcased his powerful voice and origi- Harloe, Battle Fuel, Jax (425-3835) Up. Then a funny thing happened when the group nal orchestration using looping devices to Matt Collins Pauly’s Pizza, Jax (727-9101) amicably decided to go their separate ways, The setup rhythms, over which he improvises Soulo Ragtime Tavern, Atlantic Beach (241-7877) Treatment’s song Echo Radio was featured on the on his amplified acoustic guitar. Matt pres- York styled deli dishes. It’s a great place to eat pizza CBS hit show, The Ghost Whisperer, starring Jennifer ents a full sound featuring his intelligently conceived and dig Matt Collins’ acoustic alchemy and original Ace Winn Duo Copeland’s, Jax Love Hewett. The song was featured in episode 2 of originals and some cleverly rearranged covers. Amid material. Jerry Melfi, LoriAnn The Conch House, St. Augustine (829-8646) Season 2. the enticing aroma of Pauly’s New York styled pizza, Clearly, the 10 second placement of this song sending me into a serious pizza jones, Matt delivered FRIDAY-SATURDAY, DEC. 29-30 in a scene with a boy listening to his iPod was not a his material with magnetic appeal. big time launching event, but it did get the lads think- Of all the solo singer/songwriters I’ve covered Lisa & the Mad Hatters Monkey’s Uncle, Mandarin (2601349) ing about reforming the group. But as of now, noth- lately, Matt is one of the most talented both as a Magnolia Possums Creekside Dinery, St. Augustine (829-6113) ing has come of that idea. “We have done just about songwriter and a performer. He said that he has Spade McQuade Fly’s Tie Irish Pub, Atlantic Beach (246-4293) everything an independent local band could ever worked with Chuck Nash and Ron Perry on a side Mr. Natural Whitey’s Fish Camp, Orange Park (269-4198) hope to do. We are very proud of the song making a project and has made many friends in the local mu- major television show,” Matt said at the Pauly’s gig. sical community. Havoc Latitudes, Jax Beach (247-6606) Meanwhile, Matt is playing over 200 solo For people starved for high quality original Roger That Lynch’s Irish Pub, Jax Beach (249-5181) acoustic shows a year from Jacksonville, Florida music, Matt Collins is a righteous choice to see live. Something Distant Fionn MacCool’s, Jax Beach (242-9499) (where he resides) to Charlotte, North Carolina. “I’m He plays every Friday at Pauly’s. It’s a serious pizza Big Al & the Kaholics The Dive Bar, Jax (359-9090) so lucky to be able to do what I love for a living. My restaurant that serves beer and other Italian New Sugar Bear Roadhouse, Orange Park (264-0611) Cornerstone Mill Top Tavern, St. Augustine (829-2329) Sax of Soul Bourbon Street, Jax (641-8777) Chuck Nash Band Sun Dog Steak & Seafood, Neptune Beach (241-8221) Pili Pili Caribbee Key, Neptune Beach (270-8940)
FRIDAY-SUNDAY, DEC. 29-31 Kickin Lassie Mercury Moon, Orange Park (215-8999) Gutterboy Casey’s, Yulee Tytus Hale Cap’n Odie’s, Mayport (241-8848) JJ Grey With Mofro Freebird Live, Jax Beach (246-2473) The Committee A1A Aleworks, St. Augustine (829-2977) 2 Tymin’ Cliff’s, Jax (645-5162)
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30 Kenhe The Tree Steakhouse, Atlantic Beach (241-5600) Strings of Fire Jimadores, Jax (739-5828) Box Rockers The Conch House, St. Augustine (829-8646) Instant Groove Jazz Frisky Mermaid, Fernandina (261-3300) Box 543 Culhane’s Irish Pub, Atlantic Beach (249-9595) Payton Page Mellow Mushroom, Jax (997-1955) Jager Dave Ragusa Pub, Jax (443-7055)
eujacksonville.com | december 28-january 3, 2006 23 AB’s CD Release, Heavenly Noise Martini’s, Jax (388-6269) Little Green Men Coyote’s, Orange Park (269-6837) Arden Brewsters Pit, Jax (223-9850) crossfire hurricane Acoustic X Mas-Burn Season Jack Rabbits, Jax (398-7496) Chain of Fools, Go Ask Alice The Landing, Jax Carnal, Cystic Dysentry Thee Imperial, Jax (475-0488) at pub ragusa One Less Reason, Down Theory French Quarter, Jax (732-9550) Vagabond’s Dream Box Seats, Orange Park by Rick grant [email protected] Sly Poonce & Nimble Jim Brewsters, Jax (223-9850) Easton, Woodale Fuel, Jax (425-3835) My trip to the Pub Ragusa last Saturday night After a few songs in the first to cover Jager Dave turned out to be Jager Dave set, CH found the groove. Justin Mike Shakelford The Homestead, Jax Beach (249-9660) fronting Crossfire Hurricane, rather than Jager Dave Smith is an advanced guitarist Stu Weaver Harry’s, Jax Beach (247-8855) Massey’s solo act. Nonetheless, CH was rocking who played a righteous verison Naked Lunch Shannon’s Irish Pub, Green Cove Springs this hip pub off Bowden Road near I-95. This of Hendrix’s Voodoo Child. The Bird Plus Magic Ouroboros, Jax little mini-mall has become a bastion of eats and challenge of playing Hendrix entertainment. Still, to me, Crossfire Hurricane is a is not playing a note for note De Lions of Jah Twisted Sisters, Jax Beach (241-6453) new band on my radar. Of course, I’m always on the imitation of his solos but playing Our Finest Hour, My Epic Murray Hill Theatre, Jax (388-7807) lookout for new bands or solo artists. Jacksonville is original solos in the Hendrix Fed Up Landshark Café, Atlantic Beach (246-6024) teeming with new transplanted talent that came here style. Justin nailed his Voodoo Kid Kryptonite Jax Billiards, Jax because Jax has a reputation as an underground Child solo with inventive single music Mecca–a sort of Austin in the basement. note runs and chordal structures Christopher Adkins The Brick, Jax (387-0606) This original/cover band has been gigging for that came out as a savvy David Guidi Stogies, St. Augustine 2 years. It gives Yager Dave a chance to present facsimile of Hendrix but not a Nathan Holley Bukkets, Jax Beach (246-7701) his intelligently conceived original songs with a full direct copy. Open Mic w/Larry Broussard St. Johns Pizza Grill, band. Joining Dave on lead vocals and guitar are Interestingly, considering Jax (287-9900) CH’s founder, Justin Smith, on lead guitar, Bennie Hendrix died in 1970 at only Clifton on bass, and Craig St. George on drums. 26 years old, he left a lasting Together this ensemble plays a diverse selection of legacy. Now, every aspiring SATURDAY-SUNDAY, DEC. 30-31 classic rock covers with Dave’s original songs mixed guitarist learns the Hendrix style Cupid’s Alley 747 Lounge, Jax (741-4331) into the repertoire. as a prerequisite to graduating Skytrain New Neighborhood Tavern, Jax (721-5087) Jager Dave has been playing music in the as a advanced guitarist. And, Southbound Cliff’s at the Beach, Atlantic Beach (249-2777) region for seven years. Dave used to be with shockingly, it’s all technique. Don’t Tell Anne but left to do his own thing. He Hendrix used one effects pedal- Camp Jam 07-The Burnin Smyrnans & More Lacoochee, FL joined Crossfire Hurricane as a side project. More a Crybaby wah-wah pedal, Ron Perry Ragtime Tavern, Atlantic Beach (241-7877) importantly, he wanted to hear his originals played with his Marshalls wired in Spektra Cortesse’s, St. Augustine (825-6775) by a full band. Dave’s influences include Jason Mraz, parallel turned to max–10. He Howie Day, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Matchbox 20, controlled his volume on his Dave Matthews, and Irish Folk Tunes. guitar. Naturally his pickups were SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31 Dave writes a variety of music from rock to loaded hot, so he could control Those Guys Sunset Grill, St. Augustine (471-5555) reggae to ballads to rock burners, which sound the feedback. There is a rare my favorite groups) and songs from modern country Dan Shepherd Harpoon Louie’s, Jax (389-5631) great with CH. Dave with CH draw songs from every recording of Hendrix playing an acoustic guitar, and artists. Jan Crawford & Friends Cortesse’s, St. Augustine era of rock and play covers not usually heard from it proves that his technique defined his sound, not And so, whether Jager Dave is either playing (825-6775) other bands. Dave is playing it smart, continuing electronics. solo or with Crossfire Hurricane, he is working his solo gigs at Your Place and My Place as well as So it’s a litmus test of a band’s rock prowess steadily and making a large contribution to the high ‘3’ Sun Dog Steak & Seafood, Neptune Beach (241-8221) booking gigs with CH. Flexibility leads to job security to pull off Hendrix with originality, style, and quality standards of music in the greater Jacksonville David Milam Mellow Mushroom, Jax (997-1955) for today’s professional musician. You have to have grace. DH passed the test and then proceeded to region. Take if from me, there is a hot music scene Matanzas Trade Winds Lounge, St. Augustine (829-8646) many irons in the fire to survive. demonstrate its versatility by playing an eclectic brewing just beneath the surface here in Jax that Halcyon AJ’s, Jax (805-9060) For last Saturday’s performance, CH was using repertoire of material from Allman Brothers to rivals Austin, Texas. Jager Dave and CH are in that a substitute drummer, but sounded reasonably tight. modern bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers (one of league. Boxrockers Conch House, St. Augustine (829-8646)
Rick Marino Max’s, Jax Beach (247-6766) Efface Mango’s, Jax El Toro Loco Mark’s Downtown, Jax (355-5099) Dueling Pianos Dick’s Wings/Tinseltown, Jax Retro Kats Culhane’s Irish Pub, Atlantic Beach (249-9595) The Nomads Jerry’s, Jax (220-6766) Jimmy Parrish & the Ocean Waves Band Mongo’s, Jax Kenny Holliday Beaches Woman’s Club, Jax Beach Good Jouney Spare Time, Jax Beach JW Gilmore Papagallo’s, St. Augustine Dang! Eclipse, Jax (387-3582) Ghost Rider Monkey’s Uncle, Mandarin (260-1349) Gary Campbell Mill Top Tavern, St. Augustine (829-2329) Blistur, Str8 Up The Landing, Jax Boogie Freaks Whitey’s Fish Camp, Orange Park (269-4198) Big Al & the Kaholics Cheers, Mandarin (262-4337) Coda, Dummo, Cain Was Able Brewsters, Jax (223-9850) Don’t Tell Anne Fionn MacCool’s, Jax Beach (242-9499) Vudublu Seven Bridges, Jax (997-1999) Johnny Flood Giovanni’s, Jax Beach (249-7787) Longineu Parsons Simons Wine Bar, Jax (396-8088)
24 december 28-january 3, 2006 | entertaining u newspaper Token Blonde Roadhouse, Orange Park (264-0611) Alex Affronti Sun Cruz, Mayport Greek Wave Casa Marina, Jax Beach follow the herd Wild Card Coyote’s, Orange Park (269-6837) Chillakaya All Stars, St. Augustine see Donna the Buffalo live 3rd Bass w/Von Barlow The Casbah, Jax (981-9966) Wes Cobb Band Twisted Sisters, Jax Beach (241-6453) by Erin thursby [email protected] De Lions of Jah Fly’s Tie Irish Pub, Atlantic Beach (246-4293) El Toro Loco Square One, Jax (306-9004) What: Donna the Buffalo ins met playing old time fiddle mu- Heavyweight Auggie Dogg’s, St. Augustine th When: January 4 @ 8:30 PM sic. “There’s this great subculture in John Thomas Group Shelby’s, Atlantic Beach (249-5182) Where: Café 11 fiddle playing…” says Puryear, “and Cost: $18 Tara was the first person I knew that The socially and politically charged eclectic wrote songs.” The two have been MONDAY, JANUARY 1 grassroots blend of Donna the Buffalo catches the writing songs for Donna the Buf- Boxrockers Cortesse’s, St. Augustine (825-6775) ear and takes the listener through Cajun stylings, falo since it formed. Puryear says Charlie Walker Mellow Mushroom, Jax (997-1955) reggae-rock, folk, zydeco and country with a distinc- that “I basically write[s] the songs Roargan, Laserstar Ourobos, Jax tive sound that is hard to characterize but easy to I sing and [Tara] writes the songs listen to. she sings. We kind of don’t practice Sam Pacetti The Mill Top, St. Augustine (829-2329) Donna the Buffalo was unnamed when they near enough like we ought to but we Yancy Clegg My Place, Jax (737-5299) first started jamming together, and it wasn’t until never really have. Somebody directs All Gigs River City Brewing Company, Jax (398-2299) they were on stage for the first time that they gained the song and we usually just kind Johnny Flood My Place, Jax (737-5299) their name, and it was a surprise even to them. One of throw it out there…we’ll go over it on the bus so been thinking sure… [society’s] pretty bad, but of the band’s founders, Jeb Puryear, told EU the we’ll know what it sounds like or if we sound check we’re not that bad, and we can do better. This thing Nolan Neal Fly’s Tie Irish Pub, Atlantic Beach (246-4293) story: “We had a gig so we needed a name and then we’ll run over it in sound check.” At most live per- with the war and the Bush administration, it feels like Goliath The Casbah, Jax a friend of ours was sort of toying with different formances, the band is busily trying something new. its finally showing its true colors…and unfortunately, Stu Weaver Harry’s, St. Augustine (824-7765) ideas around the buffalo theme and so his original “It’s just kind of exciting for the band. Things don’t in a way you feel good, because everybody in my idea was ‘Dawn of the Buffalo’ [and they] mispro- stay new very long because of the Internet…We community was saying that was going to be a disas- nounced it as Donna the Buffalo…For some reason have fans that record our concerts and post them ter, you’re gonna cause more problems than you’re TUESDAY, JANUARY 2 that struck more of chord with us…I think ‘Dawn online, so it’s hard to surprise people.” gonna solve…Certain songs will go through these Second String Sun Dog Steak & Seafood, Neptune of the Buffalo’ sounded a little pretentious to us, In 1990, the group got the idea to start a really fresh times, songs you’ve been playing for a Beach (241-8221) especially for a band that had never even played a Grassroots Festival. Because they found out at the long time, they’ll come back and be like new again. Matanzas Trade Winds Lounge, St. Augustine (829-8646) gig.” That was over 17 years ago. Since then, Donna time that a friend had died of AIDS, they decided to It’s kinda like you have this relationship with all the Cross Examination, Social Disease Thee Imperial, the Buffalo has sold more than a hundred thousand make it a benefit. “Now it’s been 15 years. I think songs…We do a song called ‘Conscious Evolution’ Jax (475-0488) albums, organized a major Grassroots festival and that the most outstanding thing it does…we de- that’s been very good lately, it’s a reoccurring theme Wasteland DC, Grabbag Ourobos, Jax have played consistently. velop a great bond with all these interesting people of hopeful progression for human mentality.” The band experienced a shake-up in 2005 and people from other countries…In general, it’s a Be part of the “herd” that follows Donna the Christina Wagner & Friends Mark’s Downtown, Jax (355-5099) when founding member Tim Miller left the band be- very exciting event that makes people feel great…it Buffalo, and listen to their old-time rockin’ sound at Silver Lake Drive Cortesse’s, St. Augustine (825-6775) cause his marriage to Tara Nevins dissolved, but Jeb makes human beings feel very relevant…If people Café 11 Thursday, January 4th. Whatever you believe Will Pearsall The Mill Top, St. Augustine (829-2329) says that they’ve “been very lucky replacing people.” aren’t interested in creating something for the right about the state of the world, Jeb says there’s one Happy To Be Here Jack Rabbits, Jax (398-7496) The last of Miller’s stamp on the group came in 2005 reason usually…it transfers; like the 90’s Wood- thing that the members of Donna the Buffalo will when the group released Life’s a Ride. Miller played stock.” always believe in: “There’s something that happens Bill Rice Mellow Mushroom, Jax (997-1955) guitar and backup vocals for the album. Jeb and Tara are fond of writing songs with when music comes alive and that’s pretty much our Jimmy Solari My Place, Jax (737-5299) Founding members Jeb Puryear and Tara Nev- socially progressive themes. Says Jeb: “Lately, I’ve religion.” Ron Perry Fionn MaCool’s, Jax Beach (242-9499) Colton McKenna Scarlett’s, St. Augustine (824-6535) Seth Ramsdill Fly’s Tie Irish Pub, Atlantic Beach (246-4293) In the South you see rebel rousers with their Disc one definitely establishes an attitude hank williams III confederate flags and Dixie Outfitters shirts rolling Hank wishes to convey about the state of country El Toro Loco Square One, Jax (306-9004) all over town in giant pickup trucks splattered with and its unseen angry youth, while disc two seems album review mud. These young hillbillies are full of venom and to utilize noise art to filter some listeners out from TUESDAY-WEDNESDAY, JAN. 2-3 anger, and proud of their heritage. This attitude is discovering the stripped down musical gems that Gene Nordan Mackenzie’s, Ponte Vedra (543-9143) not represented in the standard ballads of popular he has laced throughout it. Disc two’s second track country. So Hank Williams III has stepped up to that is more than forty minutes long and starts with a line with his new double album Straight to Hell. creepy, slowed-down demon-like voice singing to WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3 While he is open about his affinity for traditional the tune of a broken and almost inaudible guitar. The Hackers Cortesses, St. Augustine (825-6775) country music in songs like ‘Country Heroes’ and This creepy whales-mating sound goes on for The Cover Band Spare Time Grille, Jax Beach (246-8099) ‘My Drinking Problem,’ he is also incorporating a the first two and a half minutes. Three minutes of new identity, much like his grandfather did, by being train sounds follow. Six minutes into the second Glass Camels Ocean Club, Jax Beach (242-8884) the bad boy of country music. Covered with tattoos track, Hank sings another stripped down song that Tropic of Cancer/Art Walk Downtown, Jax and singing incessantly about his drug and alcohol sounds amazingly like his grandfather. This song is Dave Massey My Place, Jax (737-5299) abuse, Hank is unashamed of the fact that he is not one of the best on the album, but it isn’t tracked out Wes Cobb Band Square One, Jax (306-9004) Artist: Hank Williams III fulfilling the role Nashville might expect of one of so to find it you really have to want it. Title: Straight to Hell country music’s legendary offspring. Although Hank Jr, Hank III’s Daddy, could Crystal Stafford, Aerial Tribe Starlite Café, Jax (356-4444) Release Date: 03.28.2006 Putting the ‘Dick in Dixie’ is only one of the easily be called one of the fathers of the hokey new Conrad Oberg London Bridge, Jax (359-0001) Label: Bruc Records achievements Straight to Hell accomplishes. The breed of country music over-running Nashville, Rob Roy, Swordz Fuel, Jax (425-FUEL) second CD on this two-disc album is titled simply Hank III says “pop country really sucks.” He’s Stu Weaver The Mill Top, St. Augustine (829-2329) Hank Williams III is my favorite Hank Williams ‘Louisiana Stripes’ and only features two tracks. right. Country music isn’t bad, it just needs to be of them all. That’s not quite fair, my favorite The first track is a beautiful, grass-roots country geared more to the bad boys that really live it. Clyde Mannael Mellow Mushroom, Jax (997-1955) thing about Wall Street in Five Points is that they song about a man in prison in Louisiana for killing Hank is honest and the music is classic Rebecca Zapen The Casbah, Jax have Hank Sr. on the juke box, but Hank III is his wife. Following that song is country’s most fiddle, guitar, and trap kit country that you might Seth Ramsdill Ragtime Tavern, Atlantic Beach (241-7877) representing the natural evolution of country music. avant-garde noise art experimentation to date. With hear on any porch in Tennessee. This country is Vagabond’s Dream River City Brewing Company, Presenting an avid hatred for country pop, Hank this second disc, not only does Hank III show that far more real than Nashville country and deserves Jax (398-2299) III’s new album has traditional country songs with a country artists can actually have a larger artistic a listen from anyone that is bored with the same The Mike Miller Band St. Nick’s Lounge, Jax (396-3396) traditional instrumentation, to create a sound that is vision, but also that he is capable of far better songs old pop country. Crave something new that sounds authentically country, but he has an attitude that is than the highlighted image-making songs of the first old? Hank III is sending you Straight to Hell. El Toro Loco Aromas, Ponte Vedra (280-2525) far from traditional in Nashville. disc. - By Jon Bosworth Chuck Nash Sun Dog Steak & Seafood, Neptune Beach
eujacksonville.com | december 28-january 3, 2006 25 Livid Fionn MacCool’s, Jax Beach (242-9499) Pili Pili Fly’s Tie Irish Pub, Atlantic Beach (246-4293) Dave Massey My Place Bar & Grill, Jax (737-5299) myspace the new christmas card? upcoming shows by Erin thursby [email protected] Donna The Buffalo Jan. 4, Café Eleven, 469-9311 Rev. Billy Wirtz, Gunga Din Jan. 13, Cafe Eleven, 469-9311 “I don’t understand why these people send plenty of cards to display around their house, prov- me cards, I mean they never call, and I haven’t ing to visitors that they have lots of “friends.” In the Rod Stewart Jan. 13, Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arean, 630-3900 talked with them in years.” same way, a myspace extremist can have two thou- Eric Johnson Jan. 13, Freebird Live, 246-2473 I heard this from a middle aged man decrying sand “friends” that they display every time someone Styx Jan. 14, 2007, Florida Theatre, 355-2787 the cost of postage, mystified because people he comes to visit. Galactic Jan. 14, Freebird Live, 246-2473 barely knew or hadn’t spoken to in years saw fit Sending out Christmas cards is also a way Enter the Haggis Jan. 16, Cafe Eleven, 469-9311 to send him a yearly Christmas card. of displaying yourself in a way you can control. In Golden Dragon Chinese Acrobats Jan. 17, Wilson Center, 646-2222 I instantly understood why mere acquaintances day-to-day life, people can’t control how they are send Christmas cards, because I’m on myspace. perceived, but on a card things are different. You can Ringling Bros. And Barnum & Bailey Circus Jan. 17- 23, Veterans Memorial Arena, 630-3900 In the world of myspace, people maintain a pose a family worthy of Jerry Springer in match- myspace page for many of the same reasons ing button-downs on a windswept beach. On your Ricky Nelson Remembered by Matthew and Gunnar Nelson Jan. 19, Florida Theatre, 355-2787 that people used to send Christmas cards. Most myspace page, you can also project whatever image of the “friends” on a given myspace page are you would like, choosing a background color or Cowboy Mouth Jan. 19, Freebird Live, 246-BIRD made up of people who haven’t seen the poster picture as a way to present yourself to the world. If Pato Baton Jan. 20, Freebird Live, 246-BIRD since high school, just like most of the people you’ve gotten fat, just put up a picture of your cat or Blue October Jan. 21, Plush, 743-1845 who exchanged cards when it was more in a picture of yourself ten pounds lighter. Most of your Joshua Bell Jan. 22, Times Union Center , 354-5547 vogue. “friends” will never know. Al Stewart Jan. 24, Café Eleven, 469-9311 The main reason people send out those cards Everyone talks about how computers have Indigo Girls Jan. 23, Florida Theatre, 355-2787 to near-strangers, is that you can keep in touch caused us to retreat from the world, substituting with people without the effort of actual day-to- superficial interaction for real human interaction. In John Mayer Jan. 25, Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, 630-3900 day friendship. You can measure your life against the past we were forced to use things like the mail The Queers Jan 25, Jack Rabbits, 398-7496 theirs, based on a Christmas card stock, a family system to maintain this superficial interaction, doing Bill Gaither and Friends Jan. 26, Veterans Memorial Arena, 630-3900 Christmas letter and family picture. Likewise, things like actually licking stamps and addressing Corey Smith Jan 26, Florida Theatre, 355-2787 on myspace, people can measure themselves envelopes to keep in touch. These days we’ve just Cigar Store Indians Jan. 26, Jack Rabbits, 398-7496 against others based on friend count, the picture amped it up, because humans tend to develop sys- galleries and how pimped out the page is. tems that make whatever it is they already do more Dr. Dog Feb. .27, Café Eleven, 469-9311 Christmas card fanatics, who send out hordes effortless. So it isn’t that we only just discovered Murder By Death Jan. 28, Freebird Live, 246-2473 of cards, know that people feel the need to re- superficial interaction: we just do it faster and better The Lemonheads Jan 30, Jack Rabbits, 398-7496 spond in kind. That means card fanatics will have than we used to. Jamie Foxx, A Night of Comedy & Music Times Union Center , Jan. 31, 633-6110 Los Lonely Boys Feb. 1, Florida Theatre, 355-2787 Yo LA Tengo Feb. 2, Florida Theatre, 355-2787 Hammell On Trial Feb. 2, Café Eleven, 469-9311 Less than Jake Feb 2 & 3, Jack Rabbits, 398-7496 Willie Nelson Feb. 6, Florida Theatre, 355-2787 Billy Joel Feb. 7, Veterans Memorial Arena, 353-3309. Yonder Mountain String Band Feb. 7, Freebird Live, 246-BIRD Red Jumpsuit Apparatus Feb. 9, Plush, 743-1845 Joe Bonamassa Feb. 9, Florida Theatre, 355-2787 THE MATCHES Feb 12, Jack Rabbits, 398-7496 Dark Star Orchestra Feb. 14, Freebird Live, 246-BIRD Taylor Hicks Feb. 21, Florida Theatre, 355-2787 Kris Kristofferson and Rosanne Cash Feb. 25, Florida Theatre, 355-2787 Catie Curtis Feb. 25, Cafe Eleven, 469-9311 Dr. Dog Feb. 27, Cafe Eleven, 469-9311 Michael Franks March 1, Florida Theatre, 355-2787 Kathleen Madigan March 6, Florida Theatre, 355-2787 Larry the Cable Guy March 8, Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, 630-3900 Moe Marach 8, Freebird Live, 246-2473 The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra March 9, Florida Theatre, 355-2787 John Gorka, Sam Pacett March 9, Cafe Eleven, 469-9311 The Beach Boys March 10, Florida Theatre, 355-2787 Explosions in the Sky March 12, The Alcazar, 469-9311 Pepper March 12, Freebird Live, 246-BIRD The Temptations and The Four Tops March 18, Florida Theatre, 355-2787 Tom Rush March 22, Cafe Eleven, 469-9311 Anoushka Shankar March 23, Florida Theatre, 355-2787 Leo Kottke March 29, Florida Theatre, 355-2787 Tom Jones April 9, Florida Theatre, 355-2787 Ellis Paul April 20, Café Eleven, 469-9311 Relient K May 12, Freebird Live, 246-2473
26 december 28-january 3, 2006 | entertaining u newspaper my daughter really enjoyed pretending to work at the “Kids Mini Bank” and the “Kids Post Office”. When it was time to head home both protested and were culture & arts reluctant to put their shoes on and leave this kids DECEMBER paradise. 28 Fun With Fish Craft GTM Reserve, Ponte Vedra The Hands-On Children’s Museum has been around since October of 2000. The non-profit corpo- 28-29 Holiday Camps MOSH, Jax ration is funded by admissions and donations from 28-31 Camp Bike 06 Jane Macon Middle School, GA individuals, small businesses and corporations. The 28-31 Visit With Santa Claus Adventure Landing, Jax Beach & Jax facility is currently holding a fundraiser to expand the museum to two stories to include a “Dinosaur 28-31 Grossology Exhibition MOSH, Jax Dig” exhibit, an auditorium, a coffee shop and much 28-JAN. 1 Plaza Ice Palace Downtown Community Plaza, Gainesville more. They are currently holding a raffle with some 28-JAN. 1 Exhibit: Small Packages Block 27 Gallery, Jax really terrific prizes to raise funds and are accepting donations. Admission is just $3.50 for ages 1-3 and 28-JAN. 7 Bloom: Paintings and Constructions by Luis Cruz $5.50 for everyone 4 and up (children under 1 year Azaceta MOCA Jacksonville, Jax are free) and memberships for families are avail- 28-JAN. 7 Holiday Planetarium Programs MOSH, Jax able starting at $48.50 a year. The facility is also 28-JAN. 7 “Greetings! Limelight Theatre, St. Augustine available for birthday parties at just $5.50 per child 28-JAN. 14 “Christmas Presence” Shades of Grace Artists ages 1-12, $3.50 for adults which covers entrance Presbyterian Church, Ponte Vedra to the museum, rental of the party area and color invitations. Either bring your own food or have the 28-JAN. 29 FAB Fest: Future Artists of the Beaches Cummer Museum, Jax museum provide pizza for an additional charge. 28-MAR. 18 Temples and Tombs: Treasures of Egyptian Art learning about life I have to admit, I was just as enamored with Cummer Museum, jax the Hands-On Children’s Museum as my kids were. 29 Critter Concert-Music Celebration of Various Animals GTM The attentive staff keeps each exhibit nice and tidy Reserve, Ponte Vedra hands-on children’s museum so that the multitudes of educational toys are neatly 29 Gator Bowl Hall of Fame Luncheon Hyatt Regency, Jax 29-FEB. 4 “Hank and My Honky Tonk Heroes” The Alhambra by kelliE abraHamSoN [email protected] Dinner Theatre, Jax I had passed by the castle-shaped Hands-On their peers. They can even do an all-kids newscast 31 “Murder on the Happy Trail” Dave & Buster’s, Jax Children’s Museum on Beach Boulevard countless and see themselves as they deliver the news on a TV 31 New Year’s Eve Celebration/Parade Downtown, Jax times over the past few years but had never taken monitor. With all the toys, dress up clothes, games the time to check it out. With two kids looking for and puppets, the little guys never realize that they are 31 Beach Blast Off 2007-Fireworks & Chili Cook Off The Pier, St. Augustine Beach something fun to do over winter break, I decided actually learning about what real life, “grown up” life, now would be the perfect time to take the plunge and is like. Well, the fun parts of it anyway! 31 New year’s at the Pelican Club-Theatre, Food, Drink Players My two children are 2 and 4 and are used to by the Sea, Jax Beach visiting museums thanks to my job here at EU. Still, 31 New year’s Eve Party-James Bond 2007 Atlantic Theatres, I don’t think they expected anything like this, and Atlantic Beach frankly, neither did I. After paying our admission 31 Noon Year’s Eve w/Radio Disney Jax Zoo, Jax and reading over the rules (no running, no hitting, 31 Swingin’ the New Year 2007 World Golf Village, St. Augustine parental guidance required, etc.), my little ones im- mediately gravitated over to the S.S. Spinghetti Boat, 31 Urban Eden-Street Performers, Music, Dancing 9th & Main, Jax where a bright yellow slide beckoned them. After 31 Balloon Drop Party Cultural Center, Ponte Vedra a couple of slides they were on to something else, 31 5K Run & Gator Bowl Pep Rallies The Landing, Jax this time a large McDonald’s climbing slide and ball pit. Next stop was the Winn Dixie Lil’ Grocery store 31-FEB. 17 “The Makeover Murders” Professor Plum’s where both kids piled their carts full of (empty) Playhouse, Jax peanut butter jars, (empty) juice bottles and (empty) boxes of diaper rash cream. Then they piled their JANUARY groceries up on the real working conveyor belts and took turns ringing up their selections on real work- contained in their specific areas. They encourage 1-MAR. 30 “Bright Young Things” Art Show Jane Gray Gallery, Jax ing cash registers. While my son Zeke played with parents to play with their kids, not just turn them 2-6 Comedian Reno Collier Comedy Zone, Mandarin check it out. dinosaur toys, my daughter Isabelle dressed up in loose on the place. By sitting down and playing 3-5 Holiday Camps MOSH, Jax The goal of the Hands-On Children’s Museum pretty gowns and tap shoes and put on a play on make believe with my little guys I ended up having 3-28 “Menopause the Musical” FCCJ Artist Series Performing a lot of fun and I think they probably learned a little is to educate children about the world around them the “You’re the Star Stage.” We visited nearly every Arts Center, Jax by letting them touch, observe and imagine. Here, exhibit in our two hours at the museum and could something along the way. All in all, I think the Hands- kids can see what working at a grocery store or a have easily spent another two hours visiting them all On Children’s Museum is a terrific way to spend an 4-6 JSO “Beethovan’s Emperor” Performing Arts Center, Jax bank is like. They can try on a firefighter’s helmet over again. My son loved playing with the train tables afternoon or two or twelve! Be sure to check out this 5 Saturday Night Reunion Tour-Joe Piscopo, Victoria Jackson, and boots or put on costumes and perform a play for (he’s on a Thomas the Tank Engine kick lately) and local landmark as soon as possible. Father Guido Sarducci Flagler Auditorim, Palm Coast 5 2 ½ Days in Genesis Featuring Suzzette Solano The Art Center, Jax 5-27 “Rumors” Orange Park Community Theatre, Orange Park 6 Jane Austin Society Meeting European Street, Jax 6 Sanctuary Tour/Nightime Feeding Catty Shack Wildlife Ranch, Jax 6 Story Time-Meet The Author “Ocean Commotion” Barnes & Noble/San Jose, Jax 6-7 Auditions: “First Baptist of Ivy Grove” 2pm Orange Park Community Theatre, Orange Park 8 UNF String Competition Winner in Recital UNF, Jax 8 Local Chapter Laurel & Hardy Appreciation Society Pablo Creek Library, Jax 10 Seminar: How to Impress a Client in Any Capacity WJCT TV Studios, Jax 10-13 Comedian Tim Wilson Comedy Zone, Mandarin 10-FEB. 4 “King Lear” Shakespeare Festival UCF, Orlando
eujacksonville.com | december 28-january 3, 2006 27 On the other wall are two series works: 11 FCCJ Artist Series-One Thousand and One Nights Performing Warren’s “Bass School” and miniature Mondrians in Arts Center, Jax stark black, yellow and red. The Bass, like the pa- 11 “Drive & Yield Project” Art Opening/Reception JU Brest Museum, Jax rishioners on the opposite wall, all have a distinctive 12 An Evening of Musical Song & Dance Thrasher Horne personality, especially the “punk” bass in the back Center, Orange Park of the school, with its spiked fins, fishhook piercing and anarchy tattoo. The fish scales on the bass are 12 JSO “How Suite It Is!” Performing Arts Center, Jax made from Bass beer bottle tops. The impetus for 12 Ethel Merman’s Broadway Flagler Auditorium, Palm Coast the piece was a request and a fondness for the beer. 12 “Leading Ladies” Theatre Jacksonville, Jacksonville “That was really a request on Diane’s part. We were 12 FCCJ Artist Series-“Turandot” Performing Arts Center, Jax drinking Bass beer so I made bass…I decided to do a punk fish…the size of the piece depended on the 12-13 Big Yard Sale Catty Shack Wildlife Ranch, Jax chunk of wood…pins were bought and the melted 12-27 “The Rainmaker” ABET, Atlantic Beach glass beads I bought for the eyes.” 12-27 “Leading Ladies” Theatre Jacksonville, Jax The Mondrians have become a holiday tradi- tion for Warren. “I work at a museum and we do the 12-MAR. 11 Celebrating Black Hisotry Exhibit MOSH, Jax typical Christmas exchange every season…one year 13 Auditions: Fat Pig 2pm ABET, Atlantic Beach hot art, hot sauce I got the Registrar, whose job it is to uncrate and 13 Auditions: Jacksonville Symphony Chorus 3:30pm JU Fine check to artwork that comes in, so I made her min- Arts Building, Jax iatures. Each comes with its own box with padding a strange place for art and labels, tiny titles and artist statements in really 13 JSO with Seven Nations Performing Arts Center, Jax small font…it’s kind of like accessories for Barbie 13 Science of the Circus MOSH, Jax by Erin thursby [email protected] 13-28 “Rob Becker’s Defending the Caveman FCCJ Artist Series There’s more art in Jacksonville than most ren, who is presenting a diverse assortment of art Performing Arts Center, Jax people realize, and sometimes in odd places. A col- called “Influences.” Two walls feature his work. 13-FEB. 24 Classes For Children-Drawing & Painting MOCA, Jax league with a penchant for hot sauce pointed me in On one there’s his “Praise the Lord and Pass the 14 Absolute Auction Catty Shack Wildlife Ranch, Jax the direction of an art gallery placed inside Pepper Snakes,” “A Devil of a Week” and an odd but ultra Rama, a store that specializes in hot sauces of every cool cartouche that forms an arch over the two 15 Auditions: Fat Pig 7pm ABET, Atlantic Beach works. The cartouche is a double banner of blue 15 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day MOSH, Jax carved from wood. In the center of both banners 15 Class: Traditional Oil Paintings with Sydney McKenna Cultural are winged eyeballs. It was wacky and interesting Center, Ponte Vedra enough that I began plotting where I could put it on a wall. 16 “Music of Our Time” UNF, Jax I caught up with Warren via phone to interview 17 Ritz Chamber Players Performing Arts Center, Jax him for EU and asked him about his very different the museum curator or Registrar.” You can find the Pepper Rama Gallery in the 17 FCCJ Artist Series-Golden Dragon Acrobats of China FCCJ pieces. Says Warren, “I jump from medium to me- Wilson Center, Jax dium so I don’t burn out on any one thing.” Besides Pepper Rama store in the Riverside Village Shopping Center at 4555 Shirley Ave. Their new hours are 18 Pulp Fiction Theatre Boomtown, Jax creating strange and wonderful works of art, he works at the Cummer Gallery, where he has worked Tuesday-Friday from noon-8PM and Saturday s from 18 “The Motown Experience” JSO Performing Arts Center, Jax off and on for over 20 years. He’s been creating 10AM-6PM. Mark Warren’s exhibition will be there th 18 Open Gallery Grand Opening San Marco, Jax some kind of art for a long time. “I wasted a lot of through December 30 . 18 “Caring For Your Edible Landscape” Urban Garden Field, Jax paper in high school,” he jokes “and I’ve been hand carving wood since I was 5-6 years old.” His wife, 18-20 “See How They Run” DASOTA, Jax Diane Warren, owns and operates Pepper Rama The Pepper Rama Gallery’s 19 “Einstein Alive!” Theatreworks FCCJ Wilson Center, Jax and Mark is one of a few artists whose works have Statement of Purpose: 19 Arbor Day Program Duval County Extension, Jax graced the walls of the hot sauce haven. The piece “Praise the Lord and Pass the 19-20 JSO “The Motwon Experience” Performing Arts Center, Jax The Pepper Rama Gallery of Visionary Art is an Snakes” is apt to get the most attention. At first exhibition space for visionary and contempo- 19-20 Comedian James Gregory Comedy Zone, Mandarin glance, this tent revival scene, featuring those faithful rary art…The Gallery provides an opportunity parishioners that handle poisonous snakes as proof 20 Lecture Series: Lives of Objects-Artists and Patrons in Ancient for those artists that choose a different path, Egypt , Jax of their belief, seems to be in the style of clayma- Main Library whose personal artistic vision can not be tion. On closer inspection, you can see that they are 21 JSO Family Series Performing Arts Center, Jax contained by ordinary means. By placing the kind. They showcase 8 to 12 artists a year in one carved from wood. Warren says that he “was moved Visionary Art Gallery inside Pepper Rama Gour- 22 Beaches Fine Arts Series-Joshua Bell Performing Arts Center, Jax person shows. No giclees or reproductions are al- by seeing a special on PBS…I gotta hand it to met & Hot Shoppe, we have a means to bring 22 Brahms String Quartet & Clarinet Quintet UNF, Jax lowed. All the work in the gallery must be originals, somebody with enough faith to pick up a snake and the community and artist together by creating though the mediums vary from 3-D sculpture to be ok with that.” Each member of the revival, from 23 Clarinet Virtuoso Guy Yehuda Library, Ponte Vedra Beach an environment that fosters positive discourse paintings. the pastor to the parishioners has their own distinct and places cultural value on the artistic expres- 23-28 “Sweet Charity” FCCJ Artist Series Performing Arts Center, Jax The artist currently on exhibition is Mark War- personality. sion and imagination in us all. 25 “Rip Van Winkle” Theatreworks Florida Theatre, Jax 25 “I Can’t Stop Loving You-The Music of Ray Charles” UNF Fine Arts Center, Jax 25 JSO “Beethoven’s Fourth Symphony” Performing Arts Center, Jax 26-27 Comedian James Gregory Comedy Zone, Mandarin 26-28 13th Annual Official Electric Football Super Bowl & Convention Embassy Suites, Jax 26-APR. 8 Other Worlds: The Landscape in Contemporary Art Museum of Contemporary Art, Jax 26-APR. 8 Second Skins: Sculptural Soundsuits & Tondos by Nick Cave MOCA, Jax 27-28 Auditions: Shakespeare in Orange Park 2pm Orange Park Community Theatre, Orange Park 27 Book Signing-Dr. Hal Baumgarten “D-Day Survivor” Barnes & Noble, Mandarin 30 FCCJ Artist Series-Rigoletto, Teatro Lirico D’Europa Performing Arts Center, Jax 30 “Music of Our Time” UNF, Jax
28 december 28-january 3, 2006 | entertaining u newspaper there seems to be a tremendous amount of mediocrity. Teams that you wouldn’t think deserve consideration for a playoff slot are still alive. talk to me There are five teams in the NFC with 7-8 records. They are: the Giants, Packers, Fal- cons, Panthers, and Rams. One of them will jags vs. pats receive the sixth and final wild card spot in THE the playoffs, no matter what. Coincidentally, by BRENTON CROZIER [email protected] all five teams play their games on the road. JOCK Tom Coughlin has certainly had some Amy Alvarez, Zachary Lewison New England’s beloved massive problems with his Giants in the and James Davis Patriots or “Pats” as a second half of the season, having lost six of native New Englander his last seven games. However, New York would say because has the best shot at that final wild card slot, they just don’t have if his boys can come through and beat the time for the “riot” part. Redskins in Washington. If they don’t, then I’ve heard the same the Packers are next, but they have to play goes for “thank you,” the Bears in Chicago. “you’re welcome,” and Random thoughts from a cluttered mind... You also have the Falcons in Philly, the “hello, how are you.” Panthers in New Orleans, and the Rams in Minne- We were hop- JAGUARS sota. ing that between My, oh, my. The Jaguars season, which in So, as you can see, its gonna get real nasty in the humidity, lack of some ways has progressed like a bad reality TV the NFC this weekend. Its entirely possible a team Dunkin Donuts, deficit program, has come down to its final straw. The boys with a 7-9 record could make the playoffs for the of discourtesy, and head out to Kansas City to play the Chiefs, all with first time in history. minuscule amount of very faint hopes of possibly squeaking into the play- We shall see. Foxborough Faithful, offs. that the Jaguars would Should the Jags beat the Chiefs, they would COLLEGE FOOTBALL be able to pick apart need the Jets to lose at home to the Raiders, they As we all know, with the New Year celebration, the esteemed Super would need the Bengals to lose at home to the Steel- we also have a plethora of Bowl games, which to Bowl regulars. ers, and they would need the Titans, of all teams, to me have become a joke. Nonetheless, a lot of us are I quizzed my new lose at home to the Patriots. entirely interested in seeing these matchups to view friends about their As you can imagine, the chances of all these who will do what in certain situations. It was important for me to be a good ambas- knowledge of the language abuse going on in New stars aligning is quite slim. Unfortunately, the Jag- Here in town, the West Virginia Moutaineers sador and make the small rabble of New England England. When asked whatever in the world “wicked uars put themselves in this position with losses the will face the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Tech was fans feel right at home during their visit to Alltel this pissa” could mean, Zachary quickly answered past two weeks, as we all know. They had so many in town a few weeks ago for the ACC Champion- weekend. I greeted the cantankerous Patriot faithful that “It means fierce.” You see my New Englander chances to really move forward heading into the ship, so I don’t expect to see as many fans from the with a Southern scorched, “Patriots suck wicked friends, we are a cultured and educated bunch here playoffs. But they have made mistakes in key situa- Atlanta area as we might expect to see from West bad!” in Jacksonville; we’ve learned of your ways and tions, and, combined with the loss of many starters Virginia. We’re a friendly lot here in the River City and customs. I then asked the group to use “wicked” in due to injury, especially on Defense, this team has The Gator Bowl has a definite history for this wanted to make the extra effort to ensure the com- a sentence. Zachary volunteered, “We don’t think simply come up a tad bit short. It’s been a com- city, without question, having been around for quite a fort of the Yankee transplants that braved the rain that Tom Brady is wicked awesome.” They were pletely frustrating season for all involved, from the few years. But I think local interest in this game has and rowdy Jaguar’s fans with a familiar vernacular; getting the hang of it, and James Davis took it up players to the coaches to the ownership and fans. dwindled to some extent, as other games nationally the infamous “wicked.” It is imperative to fully com- a notch with “Maurice Jones-Drew is wicked awe- The Chiefs are a tough group, led by the bull- have gotten more prominent, while the teams that prehend this bit of refined Northern verbiage to the some.” There could not be a more appropriate use rushing of Larry Johnson on offense. Herm Edwards have come here in recent years haven’t been as fullest extent. In circles North of Newark, the word of wicked, my friend. Stick that feather in your cap, has done a decent job in his first year as the K.C. glamorous. wicked is a multi-used adjective grouped together snowbirds, and call it whatever kind of pasta you coach, and it will be a tough task on the part of Jack Certainly, there is still a product and a game with an infinite bank of terms to form a universal want. Del Rio to get his squad fired up to beat these guys. that receives interest, especially from the teams that idiom to convey one of two points: that something is Sadly, this was the Jaguar’s last home stand of And we will all watch and wonder what could will show up. But I think something needs to hap- good, great, cool, awesome, splendid, fantastic, hip, the 2006 season. Even more heartbreaking was the have been. pen, on the part of the Gator Bowl Committee and or exciting, or to add emphasis that something really, appalling call at the end of the game that has nearly the NCAA, to change certain aspects of this game to really sucks. erased Jacksonville’s hope of a playoff appearance. NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE make it more prominent, for it to receive better cov- I bumped into Jaguar fans Amy Alvarez, Zach- It was a good run; you could even say it was a This should be a wild and crazy weekend in the erage and attention. ary Lewison, and James Davis. We discussed last wicked good season. There is still a glimmer of hope National Football League, for all intents and purpos- Tom Weppel talks trash on Thursdays from 7-8 minute Christmas shopping, a Jaguars playoff birth for the Jaguars, a tiny, dull glimmer. Nevertheless, es. Most of it will center on who will qualify for the p.m. on WIOJ-AM 1010, and on SportsAvengers. waiting under the tree from jolly St. Nick, the gloomy, we will be rooting them on while they are playing two wild card slots in each Conference. In the NFC, com 24/7. yet ripe-for-football weather conditions, and the their way through a tough Kansas City team. Thanks visceral dislike (hatred is just too nasty this time of for the football fellowship, slurred analysis, smiling year, even for Brady and the boys) we shared for faces, and insightful quotes.
eujacksonville.com | december 28-january 3, 2006 29 Why NASCAR could just have a two day event with say an 800 or 1000 mile race on a weekend and his wife Deb sent us some real neat stuff from and change the types of cars each day. There could over there. We had our second annual Christmas even be more cars in the field, say 70 or 80, starting breakfast this year since my wife, Ann, found out nascar news & notes on Saturday and surely it would reduce in size by how much easier it is than a big dinner. I really don’t by RICHARD TEAGUE [email protected] Sunday, with all the wrecks there would be. Even the understand her thinking about that because she re- fans would like it more because of more crashes and ally seems to work just as hard at a breakfast as “Wanted – NASCAR Series Sponsor” Yes sir, series as a “playground” the past season. Do you the real rookies getting put out one day and not rac- she does for a dinner, but I’ll tell ya this, the family, the want ads are out and NASCAR & ESPN are look- think that NASCAR told A-B that they better P-U the ing the next. NASCAR would surely sell more tickets including myself, really does like it better this way. ing for a sponsor that will put tons of money in the big money if they wanted the series, or did ESPN tell that way because more fans would come both days, It lets you have plenty to eat in the morning and old Busch Series of NASCAR. Seems that the people them it was a good idea to raise the rent? Whatever and that’s what NASCAR wants anyway isn’t it? I then time to go to a movie, or visit others and come at Anheuser-Busch feel they are, “starting to dilute the case may be, there will be no more NASCAR even think that the TV companies would love it. It back for an afternoon or early evening pig out with ourselves” according to vice president of global Busch Series racing after 2007 and that sure sounds would certainly be a brand new way to promote the easy-to-fix stuff. You just might want to try it some- media and sports marketing Tony Ponturo. The A-B strange. Oh well, we got over Winston leaving did sport of racing, and with the money ABC & ESPN time and see what you think. We start around 10:30 Boys think that with all the money they put in the we? Yeah Right! have spent to have the broadcast rights, any way to AM, so you could call it a brunch, and then in the Busch Series, and the big bucks in Cup, people In what some call a first, the two are looking for make more money is great. afternoon just a small deal with a Honey Baked Ham, won’t know the “la difference” between Bud and a series sponsor that will ante up to have their name I guess what I’m saying here is that if you be- tater salad, baked beans, chips and dip, more candy, Busch. Now how can they think that when everybody next to Nextel (no pun meant here) hoping NASCAR lieve that Busch is pulling out because it’s a dilution and a cheesecake, I call that meal “linner.” knows that Bud is in a red can and Busch is in a blue has 26 more years. Now who could do that? Well of their products, well then I’ve got some fantastic Well, after all the stuff this weekend and now, one? Are they afraid that fans will buy one beer more the rumors are already in play with the likes of Wal- South Florida land you can buy cheap and I’ll show it dad burn it, I get to get ready to do it again with the that the other or is there another reason? Mart and several others. Now that wouldn’t sound too ya at low tide. NASCAR is raising the cost of the food and family and friends. There is one bad thing, They have been diluting the company for years too bad: “The Wally Series” on Saturday. The races series and that’s the reason Busch is leaving. Who and that is that there’s no NASCAR to watch. Guess now, or at least I think so. Heck, I remember when I could even be run on Saturday mornings between can blame them? It seems that things like history, I’ll break out the ol’ “Days of Thunder” tape and had my fake ID and you could only get either a Bud the kid’s shows. How about an oil company? Say the building of a sport, meaningful ties with one an- watch that. I have decided that this New Year I will or a Busch in either can or a bottle and then only in Exxon or BP, or maybe a food store chain like Winn- other, and partnerships have gone out the door and not make any resolutions at all, only because I am maybe 3 different sizes. Then someone invented a Dixie or Publix? Put the WD Brand back on a plate. the almighty dollar has taken over for NASCAR. And tired of breaking them by the next weekend. I hope fancy beer named Michelob and it was all downhill Perhaps Sears might want to move up to the number don’t you know just who NASCAR is? Well if you that if there ain’t any to break, perhaps I can do bet- after that. Now you can go into almost any store and two series and let another company takeover the don’t, then I’m not going to tell ya. Oh, and by the ter. O K, I’m done, and if you need to contact me it buy one of seven different kinds of Bud, a measly trucks. We don’t have to worry our small minds one way, I got one more name to add to the list of new can be done at [email protected]. Just one four different Busch, and seven kinds of Michelob. bit, because the series will still be there in 2008, sponsors, how about “The NASCAR Goodwrench more thing, the word “contact” reminds me of the Now just who is diluting what? It doesn’t stop there. cause there is way too much money involved. Series”? word “contract” and things are not going well with Also available are the NINETEEN other brands that Now Wait One Minute!! I have got the per- Moving right along, I hope that all of y’all my negotiations. So you may be reading one of my fall under the Anheuser-Busch banner along with a fect sponsor. Since Nextel took over Cup and has had a nice Christmas and got some neat stuff and last few articles right now, and I want you to know few imported by them. Now just who is doing what restricted what company can and cannot sponsor had plenty to eat. I also hope that you celebrated that it’s not me, I’m really trying to jump through when Tony says, “In this day and age of competition, a Cup car, how about Cingular / AT&T? NASCAR with your family and friends this past weekend their hoops, but there’s just so much I writer can do. the last thing you want is to dilute your own effort.” talks about the value of the Busch Series, Bubbas. and you did something nice for someone. I got a Again this week I’ll refrain from my usual ending and NASCAR stated that, “We think the Busch If it was called “The Bell Series” there would be all few NASCAR gifts and my Mate in Australia, Pete, say, HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Series is a property that has been undermarketed kinds of in-fighting between the two series sponsors and undervalued from a broadcast standpoint.” The and NASCAR would be the winner, what with all guess is that Busch pays 10 million bucks a year for the money those two would be spending. I can see the rights to the series and now that ESPN has sole it now, NASCAR could raise the rate and whoever broadcast rights for all the races it should be worth could spend the most would have their series finish three or more times that. One financial guy said that up the weekend. With the Cup guys already running the series should be worth around $100 million what both races, just what would it matter what day of the with the way the Cup drivers have been using the week the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series raced?
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